AI-171 Crash Probe Points At Honeywell-Manufactured Switches Flagged By FAA In 2018
The renowned MNC Honeywell has been drawn into the Air India crash investigation after the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) report mentioned that the fuel switches, manufactured by them, could likely be faulty.
The report mentioned that the two pilots argued over the fuel switches not functioning immediately after the take-off before their communications went silent owing to the crash within 32 seconds.
The US Federal Aviation Administration had in a 2018 report flagged a potential fault in the switches' locking mechanism.
"Boeing informed the FAA that the fuel control switch design, including the locking feature, is similar on various Boeing airplane models. The table below identifies the affected airplane models and related part numbers (P/Ns) of the fuel control switch, which is manufactured by Honeywell," the report had mentioned.
Although the report is out, there is nothing conclusive, according to Aurobindo Handa, former AAIB Director, who added that it is premature to pin point the blame.
"AAIB will have to sit on the simulator & try all the scenarios... Don't think there is a requirement to send the recorder to OEM," he added.
Captain Sanjay Karve, aviation analyst, said there is a need to conduct a detailed probe. "AAIB only putting out only 2 sentences of audio is very suspicious," he said.
"Fault does lie with Boeing & FAA to certain extent. History has shown FAA always supports US airlines," according to Karve, who also mentioned that there were complaints about fuel switch not working, leading to FAA coming out with the advisory in 2018.
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