AirTran Airbus??

[Mugs]

Exactly correct. Very well could have been what happened in this case. There is a modified latch available that is supposed to prevent this scenario, but who knows how many operators have installed them.

 

[Networ-King]

I have heard of incidents where the latches were closed, but the cowling wasn't secured (latches closed on an open cowling to make the latches less of a nuisance/source of injury to maintenance personnel, and then overlooked when work was completed). I don;t know any of the specifics of the Ryan incident, though.

This is exactly the case with 951lf. I know the FO and he is a great guy. The latches have tendancy of stabbing the Mechanics when they are woking on the engine, while the cowl is full open, so they latched them in the up position so this does not happen...... the problem occured when this certain mechanic got called to go take care of another aircraft and some other mechanic closed the cowls. This should never have happened and is one of those lessons learned the hard way for a few people. Needless to say that mechanic is not there any longer. And when you do the walk around there is only one spot that you can see this, and the latches are not it. That plane does seem to be cursed, because after that little problem was fixed "after a month" one of the mechanics nocked down a flag pole on the mercury ramp with one of the leading edges..... lol.... poor b a s t a r d. Ryan is done operating for airtran as of November 6th. That is the current plan anyways.....and no thanks is necessary on either side..... business is business.....