No action recommended yet, what all Air India crash probe panel investigated: 10 points

A preliminary report on the devastating Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad revealed some of the key facts that were previously unknown in the case. The report noted that the fuel to the engines of the aircraft that crashed and killed 260 people last month appeared to be cut off seconds after the flight took off.

The flight AI171 crashed into a densely populated residential area in Ahmedabad on June 12. While 241 passengers onboard were killed, with just one survivor, the impact also led to the death of 19 other people on the ground, making it one of the most devastating aviation disasters in Indian history. It was the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which was bound for London, that crashed on the fateful day.

The report released by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau found that switches in the cockpit that controlled fuel moved to a “cutoff” position and suggested that Boeing and engine maker GE had no apparent responsibility for the accident.

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No action recommended yet, what all Air India crash probe panel investigated:10 points Take-off to cut-off, all safety checks protocol followed: Air India crash probe report

“The aircraft achieved the maximum recorded airspeed of 180 knots IAS [indicated airspeed] at about 08:08:42 UTC, and immediately thereafter, the engine 1 and engine 2 fuel cutoff switches transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF position one after another with a time gap of 1 second," the report said. “The engines N1 and N2 began to decrease from their takeoff values as the fuel supply to the engines was cut off.” The aircraft started to lose altitude before crossing the airport perimeter wall.

With the preliminary report out, here are the 10 things that have been investigated in the case as of now:

10 things the Air India probe panel investigated in the preliminary report

• The investigation of the wreckage site activities, including Drone photography/videography, has been completed. The wreckage has now been moved to a “secure area near the airport”.

• Both engines of the aircraft were retrieved from the wreckage site and quarantined at a hangar in the airport.

• Components of interest for further investigation have been identified and quarantined as well.

• Fuel Samples taken from the browsers and tanks used to refuel the aircraft were tested at the DGCA’s Lab and found satisfactory.

• A very limited number of fuel samples could be retrieved from the APU filter and Refuel/Jettison valve of the left wing. The testing of these samples will be done at a suitable facility capable of carrying out the test with the limited available quantity.

• The EAFR data downloaded from the forward EAFR is being analysed in detail.

• The investigators have obtained all the statements of the witnesses and the surviving passenger.

• Complete analysis of postmortem reports of the crew and the passengers is being undertaken to corroborate aeromedical findings with the engineering assessment.

• Apart from this, additional details are being gathered based on the initial leads.
  At this stage of the investigation, there are no recommended actions for B787-8 and/or GE GEnx-1B engine operators and manufacturers.

The report concluded by stating that the investigation is still ongoing and the authorities would further review and examine additional evidence, records and information that are currently being sought from the stakeholders.