Computer fault caused Qantas plunge, say investigators
October 14th, 2008 - 7:03 pm ICT by ANI Melbourne, Oct.14 (ANI): Air investigators have blamed a faulty computer system for the terrifying mid-air plunge of a Qantas flight between Singapore and Perth last week.
A fault in the Airbus A330-300′’s air data inertial reference system is believed to have led to erroneous information being sent to its flight control computer, causing the autopilot to shut down.
The aircraft was cruising at 37,000 feet when the fault occurred, causing it to descend up to 650 feet in seconds.
More than 70 people were injured when the plane, carrying 303 passengers and 10-crew, suddenly dropped altitude, hurling people around the cabin and forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing at Learmonth in Western Australia.
Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigation director Julian Walsh said the faulty unit continued to feed “erroneous and spike values” to its primary computers.
Walsh said analysis of the digital flight recorder showed the faulty air data system continued to generate false information, leading to a second, less serious “nose down aircraft movement”.
The ATSB is expected to provide a preliminary factual report within three weeks. (ANI)
- Potential manufacturing defect blamed for Qantas' A380 Rolls Royce engines' blasts - Dec 02, 2010
- Qantas cuts fuel surcharge on its international fares - Oct 08, 2008
- Rolls-Royce engine worries continue for Qantas' A380 fleet - Dec 09, 2010
- Qantas' woes continue as 'scary' cockpit fire forces Sydney-bound jet to divert to Cairns - Mar 24, 2011
- 74 hurt as Qantas Airbus plunges 2000 meters - Oct 08, 2008
- Only pilots' expertise saved Qantas A380 from disaster following mid-air explosion - Dec 03, 2010
- Now, Qantas 747 forced to return back to Sydney following electrical system problem - Nov 15, 2010
- Pakistan PM's aircraft develops mid-air snag - May 06, 2011
- Plane hit by lightning off New Zealand - May 11, 2011
- Another Qantas plane grounded in Australia following engine failure - Nov 28, 2010
- Qantas' flight woes continue as fault forces US-bound jet to divert to Fiji - Jan 19, 2011
- First Qantas A380 flight takes off since engine explosion incident - Nov 27, 2010
- Qantas 747 forced to return to Bangkok International Airport after facing engine problems - Jan 26, 2011
- Qantas' woes continue, jet returns to Sydney - Nov 15, 2010
- Plane makes emergency landing in London - Apr 16, 2012
Tags: airbus a330 300, atsb, australian transport safety bureau, autopilot, computer fault, control computer, digital flight, emergency landing, factual report, false information, faulty computer, faulty unit, flight control, flight recorder, inertial reference system, learmonth, mid air, qantas flight, transport safety bureau, western australia