CRJ Crash in Kigali, Rwanda

[atpcliff]

Hi.

Was there last night. Everything I heard was 2nd hand...

CRJ (reportedly a 1000) came back with technical problem. Taxied in w/ marshaller and was chocked.

Engines went to full power, and the pilots could not shut it down. Jumped the chocks, and ended up crashing into building that houses the ATC tower. 1 pax died, capt lost a leg, and female FO lost both legs.

Ambulance crashed (rolled over) on way to hospital.

The airport was closed for a couple of hours or so. It was RwandAir flight, with Jetlink markings (Jetlink has one or more planes in RwandAir markings).

Observations:
The ramp is about 700m or so across. From their normal parking spot, they would've had to turn right to hit the tower building (the right turn was reported elsewhere). Emergency vehicles and lots of people still there around 2300. Fire fighters did a good job of putting out fire, or else everyone would have died.

This accident makes no sense to me:
Why couldn't the engines be shut down?
Why didn't brakes stop the aircraft?
Why did it hit the building, vs. going into grassy berm that was straight ahead?
I hope it was a mechanical fault that can be fixed on all CRJs, and not the pilots' fault!

cliff
NBO
PS-It could have been me. I tried to get hired at Jetlink. My buddy said they had a very good operation...very professional.

http://www.news24.com/Content/Africa...e_crash_1_dead
http://www.flyafrica.info/forums/showthread.php?t=23834

 

[Oakum_Boy]

Airplanes don't just "go to full power". Extremely unlikely if it was FADEC equipped that both engines would malfunction this way unless a generic cock up was made by maintenance to both engines. CRJ-1000's don't exist yet, BTW.

 

[Smash312]

It was a CRJ-100. Yeah, sad to hear folks having their legs lost. Sometimes, hearing stuff likes this kinda puts it all in perspective. Even the crapiest day sure beats having no limbs. Prayers with them.

 

[Amish RakeFight]

Jesus. What a story.

 

[ultrarunner]

Some pics and a few more details over at PPrune.

 

[atpcliff]

Hi.

Update. Talked to someone who knows Jetlink pilots:

On takeoff, both engines accelerated to max power. Takeoff OK, but then what to do? They shut one engine down with the emergency shutoff (T-handle, or whatever they call it), and successfully landed the plane on one engine at 100%.

Taxied back, and chocked in parking spot. Engine still at 100%. Could not shut it down. Then brakes gave way, as overheated, jumped chocks, and smashed into building. Capt and FO OK...Only broken leg and broken ankle.

I injured pax was killed on way to the hospital in ambulance, and I heard from other posters; 2 other persons outside ambulance killed in ambulance accident.

cliff
NBO

 

[Oakum_Boy]

I'm pretty sure that was a seriously bad decision. Get a tug and live to fly another day. But hey, also I'm pretty sure Africa is a strange place.

 

[regionalcap]

Go here for the pictures.

http://www.avherald.com/h?article=422a16dc&opt=0

 

[boeing72]

i got 5 years in a crj 100/200

engine fire switch would have shut it down if the thrust lever cut off did not work.

in theory anyway

 

[bizjet800]

I was in Rwanda over the summer, I didn't even know they had a VIP lounge. I hate to speculate, but you'd think they would have pulled the fire handle.

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

I was told they shut the one engine down with the fire handle, but the other engine stayed running...fire handle would not work.

cliff
NBO

 

[Singlecoil]

So one engine was shut down then the T handle was pulled on the other? I'm not a CRJ driver, but I'm assuming it has engine driven and electric hyd pumps. Pulling the T handle on the only operating engine would shut off the single running engine driven pump and would it take the gen off line which would fail the single running electric pump? Now you have no hyd pressure at all? No brakes or emergency brake.

 

[Airboss]

So one engine was shut down then the T handle was pulled on the other? I'm not a CRJ driver, but I'm assuming it has engine driven and electric hyd pumps. Pulling the T handle on the only operating engine would shut off the single running engine driven pump and would it take the gen off line which would fail the single running electric pump? Now you have no hyd pressure at all? No brakes or emergency brake.

If the apu was operating, the hydraulics would be working and the generators too.

 

[N1VIBS]

Its been several years since I've flown the 100 or 200(flying the 700/900 now) so I'm sure i'm forgetting something. Anyway, best I remember there is nothing common between the engines other than than the power levers. Each engine has a seperate control unit (I think). Possibly both power levers were jammed somehow in the full power position. Other than that I have no idea. Any current 100/200 drivers know anything common between the engines? No FADEC on the 100/200.

 

[metrodriver]

I don't know about CRJ's. I see a few similarities with the learjet that crashed in N/S Carolina a year or two back when during a tire burst the ground sensing was lost and both engines went to full power instead of reverse.

On a metro I once couldn't shut the engines down. Pushing shut down buttons didn't do a thing. Pulling stop and feather would shut them down, but as soon as I pushed them back in the engines would start up again. Turning the battery switches off killed the engines. Cause: a broken ground wire.

 

[PoorJetDriver]

No FADEC on the 100....Strange problem..

 

[can99]

I think maybe this statement aint correct "ground sensing was lost and both engines went to full power instead of reverse."

You mean they couldnt get reverse as the ground sensing was lost me thinks...

 

[wmuflyguy]

So one engine was shut down then the T handle was pulled on the other? I'm not a CRJ driver, but I'm assuming it has engine driven and electric hyd pumps. Pulling the T handle on the only operating engine would shut off the single running engine driven pump and would it take the gen off line which would fail the single running electric pump? Now you have no hyd pressure at all? No brakes or emergency brake.

The "t" handle/Fire Switch Light (it is merely a guarded button), merely closes the Fuel Shut-off Valve (also shuts off the Gen, closes the Hydraulic shutoff valve and arms the fire bottles). That would starve the engine of fuel. Who knows how often those things are tested or what the failure rate is. I'd guess if you fired the Halon that would shutoff the engine also, if say the fuel shutoff valve failed to close.

 

[AvroJockey]

Hi.

Update. Talked to someone who knows Jetlink pilots:

On takeoff, both engines accelerated to max power. Takeoff OK, but then what to do? They shut one engine down with the emergency shutoff (T-handle, or whatever they call it), and successfully landed the plane on one engine at 100%.

Taxied back, and chocked in parking spot. Engine still at 100%. Could not shut it down. Then brakes gave way, as overheated, jumped chocks, and smashed into building. Capt and FO OK...Only broken leg and broken ankle.

I injured pax was killed on way to the hospital in ambulance, and I heard from other posters; 2 other persons outside ambulance killed in ambulance accident.

cliff
NBO

Gives new meaning to..."The drive to or from the airport is the most dangerous part of your trip!"

 

[oceandude]

Left throttle stuck in full. Rigth was put on Idle... They forgot how to shut the eng. down with the fire push button... Landed, brakes cooked and tires gone on left side. Parked shut right engine down ( lost outboard brake pressure ) and they where off.... with the left eng. still going full blast!