Ten Injured in Ground Test [Airbus]

Spiegel ^ | November 16, 2007

[DeaconBenjamin]

A crash during the testing of a new Airbus jet has left 10 people injured, three seriously, in the French city of Toulouse. French investigators are looking into the cause of the accident.

The Airbus A340-600 destined for delivery to Etihad Airlines failed to pass its last tests on Nov. 15 at the Toulouse-Blagnac airport.

Ten people were injured on Thursday afternoon, when an Airbus 340-600 crashed through a barrier and rammed into a wall during tests of the plane at the Toulouse-Blagnac airport in France.

French government officials reported that the nine people on board and one person on the ground were injured -- three seriously -- but that no lives are at risk.

The plane was undergoing its last set of tests before being delivered to Etihad Airlines, and seven of the passengers on board were employees of the Abu Dhabi-based carrier.

The accident happened when the airplane's four engines were throttled up and the brakes applied. Airbus Chief Operating Officer Fabrice Bregier said that the plane lurched into the barrier and wall "for reasons still unknown."

France's environment and transportation minister, Jean-Louis Borloo, "immediately requested" a technical investigation into the causes of the accident, which took place near Airbus headquarters.

[freebird5850]

That’ll buff right out!

[Boiler Plate]

What happened to the cockpit?

[RightOnline]

Airbust?

[Pilsner]

Maybe next time they do a brake test, they'll point the bird down the runway.

Yeah. This is like checking to make sure you pistol is unloaded by dry firing it into a crowd of people.

[6ppc]

If they were testing the brakes aginst full power, it would be prudent to point the aircraft at an empty area, not a building.

Just what I was thinking!

[woollyone]

it’s a convertible

[Leisler]

Well, at least the pilot is done and no one got killed.

[Erasmus]

Hmmm. So here's my ScientificWildA$$Guess:

1. Fly by wire software.

2. Rogue pointer value.

3. Overwriting the brake-control register with a value that says, "let'm go!"

(Half - <}B^)

[null and void]

Terrorism not suspected...

[windcliff]

ping

[RightWhale]

the airplane's four engines were throttled up and the brakes applied

The manual said apply the brakes then throttle up.

[onedoug]

Hmm. "...four engines were throttled up and the brakes applied"?

Seems like pilot error.

J and I flew an earlier model from HK to Saigon. Comfortable, and a pretty good record overall, I think.

[raygun]

Every SINGLE time that happens to me, I hate when that happens to me. Oh, wait, that’s NEVER happened to me. Well, if it did happen to me, I KNOW I’d just hate when that heppens to me.

Ouch! That’s gotta smart, and I bet that’s going to leave a mark too.

[Paleo Conservative]

If you want on or off this aerospace ping list, please contact Paleo Conservative or phantomworker by Freep mail.

[July 4th]

If they were testing the brakes aginst full power, it would be prudent to point the aircraft at an empty area, not a building.

That's what the wall's there for - it did its job well. They can't do runway tests out in the open at Toulouse because (1) there are businesses and homes surrounding the airport and (2) there are noise restrictions that have to be met by doing the testing within the barriers.

[True Republican Patriot]

Ah,but remember We are talking about the French here, they are not usually accused of being reasonable and prudent.
Shoulda bought a Boeing 747!

[RJL]

hmmmm I COULD be wrong but its my guess that the engines produced more GO than the brakes produced STOP. Just a guess though.

LOL... Well said.

[Brofholdonow]

Bring on the Bondo, about a 55 gallon drum’s worth...

[pepperdog]

Can’t....stop....laughing!

[UCANSEE2]

Imagine the team manager, sitting inside the building, after confidently stating “these brakes are so good, they’re gonna aim the plane right at us while we power up full.”

“I have total confid.......OH , run like hell!!!!”