Air India Crash: Preliminary Report Released By Investigation Bureau

India Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has released a preliminary report on the deadly Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad on June 12. The report showed the plane engines' fuel switches shifting from run to cutoff within seconds of each other.

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with 242 people on board bound for Gatwick, London began losing height moments after take-off and erupted in a huge fireball as it crashed into a residential area. Only one passenger survived.

As the plane achieved maximum speed of 180 knots IAS, immediately engine one and two fuel cutoff switches transitioned from run to cutoff.

In cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why did he cutoff, and the other pilot responded that he did not do so.

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Engine one's core deceleration stopped, reversed and started progress to recovery. Engine two was able to relight but couldn't arrest core speed deceleration; re-introduced fuel repeatedly.

The AFT EAFR was damaged and could not be downloaded through conventional means. The AFT EAFR is a system which uses sensors, recorders, and has different power backups to withstand extreme crash forces. This sophisticated system contains flight data, cockpit audio, and communication logs. It helps capture the final moments of a crash.

EAFR data showed that the N2 values of both engines passed below the minimum idle speed. N2 refers to the speed of the high-pressure compressor spool, which is integral to generate the power needed for engine systems.

"At this stage of investigation, there are no recommended actions to Boeing BA.N 787-8 and/or GE GE.N GEnx-1B engine operators and manufacturers" India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau said.

The agency, an office under India's civil aviation ministry, is leading the probe into the world's deadliest aviation accident in a decade.

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

Investigation will continue, the agency said. Components of interest for further examinations have been identified and quarantined.

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