BEA Report into A320 Accident Brings Answers

Air New Zealand today acknowledged the final report from the Bureau d'Enquetes et d'Analyses (BEA) into the cause of the accident involving an A320 operated by XL Airways of Germany off the coast of France in November 2008.

The A320 was under lease to XL Airways of Germany which was undertaking a pre-acceptance flight to demonstrate the proper functioning of the aircraft’s systems before its return to Air New Zealand.

Five New Zealanders and two Germans lost their lives in the accident. They were the XL Airways pilots in control of the aircraft - Norbert Kaeppel and Theodor Ketzer; New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority airworthiness engineer, Jeremy Cook; and Air New Zealand staff Michael Gyles, Brian Horrell, Noel Marsh and Murray White.

The accident was the result of several key contributing factors including:

This was the first flight of the aircraft following maintenance at EAS, a maintenance facility based in Perpignan, France. During the rinsing of the aircraft by EAS personnel, proper cleaning procedures were not followed and the aircraft’s angle of attack sensors were left unprotected. Water penetrated two of the three sensors, which later froze during the flight.

The loss of control of the aircraft following the improvised demonstration of the functioning of the angle of attack protections during a low speed test, with the blockage of the angle of attack sensors making it impossible for these protections to trigger.

The German pilots were not aware of the blockage of the angle of attack sensors. Speeds mentioned in the available programme of checks were not taken into account and consequently the demonstration was not stopped before the aircraft stalled.

Challenges faced by the German pilot following approval from Perpignan Air Traffic Control (ATC) for the flight, with a separate CRNA south-west controller (a regional ATC) then refusing permission to perform the requested manoeuvres, which led to the pilots opting to adapt the programme of checks and adding complexity to the flight.

The absence of a regulatory framework within the aviation industry for check-flights in the areas of air traffic management and aircraft operations. As a result, Air New Zealand, as is common within the industry, bases its check-flight programme on standards developed by manufacturer Airbus.

Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Rob Fyfe says the airline acknowledges the BEA’s exhaustive investigation and welcomes the opportunity to review the recommendations alongside Safety Regulators to identify where operational improvements to non-revenue flights can be made.

“The investigative process is designed to ensure the aviation industry gets critical learning opportunities that will ultimately further improve safety in one of the most cautious and risk-adverse industries in the world.

“While this report will not change the fact seven families lost dads, husbands, brothers and sons and we lost great colleagues, the findings will benefit the entire aviation industry.

“Check-flights are completed every day by airlines across the globe but as highlighted in the report there is no regulated standard. We have been operating to the manufacturer’s standard, in accordance with industry practice and with approval of our own NZCAA, but clearly a regulatory framework to create consistency and further minimise the opportunity for a tragedy like this to happen is needed.”

Mr Fyfe says the BEA report illustrates that as is often the case in accidents, multiple factors contributed to this tragedy.

“Clearly the German pilots expected to be able to do the low speed test safely. The fact the angle of attack sensors were not working meant the aircraft became impossible to control and the situation was irrecoverable.

“The BEA investigators have laid out the facts as they see them and this brings with it some closure. Air New Zealand supports its safety recommendations and is now working closely with the wider industry to discuss these in more detail.”

Air New Zealand will be reviewing the report in detail through Friday morning and may make further comment later in the day.

Meantime, the families of the New Zealanders lost in the accident have asked the airline to convey their ongoing wish to have their privacy respected.