NTSB CHAIRMAN EMPHASIZES INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN BRITISH BOEING 777 RECOMMENDATIONS

[NTSB Press Releases <NTSBPressReleases@xxxxxxxx>]

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                      NTSB PRESS RELEASE
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National Transportation Safety Board
Washington, DC 20594

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 4, 2008
SB-08-37

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NTSB CHAIRMAN EMPHASIZES INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN 
BRITISH BOEING 777 RECOMMENDATIONS

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Washington, DC - National Transportation Safety Board Acting 
Chairman Mark V. Rosenker today praised the work of all the 
investigators looking into the crash of a Boeing 777 at 
London's Heathrow Airport in January, saying that the 
recommendations issued today "show how international 
cooperation can lead to safety improvements that benefit the 
aviation community worldwide."

The United Kingdom's Air Accidents Investigation Branch 
(AAIB), which is leading the investigation into the January 
17, 2008, accident in which a British Airways Boeing 777- 
236ER landed short of Runway 27L at London Heathrow Airport, 
issued an interim report today on the progress of the 
investigation.  

The interim report contains recommendations aimed at 
addressing a circumstance identified by investigators 
relating to Rolls Royce-powered Boeing 777 aircraft.  The 
investigation has shown that both engines lost power in the 
final minute of flight because the fuel flow to each engine 
was restricted; most probably due to an accumulation of ice 
within the engine fuel feed system. The ice is likely to 
have formed from water - which exists naturally in the fuel 
- while the aircraft operated for a long period, with low 
fuel flows, in the cold environment associated with high-
altitude flight.

In accordance with established international arrangements, 
the National Transportation Safety Board, representing the 
State of Design and Manufacture of the aircraft, appointed 
an Accredited Representative to participate in the 
investigation.  The Accredited Representative is being 
supported by a U.S. team that includes NTSB specialists, the 
Federal Aviation Administration, and Boeing.  Rolls-Royce, 
the engine manufacturer, is also participating in the 
investigation. British Airways, the operator, is cooperating 
with the investigation and providing expertise as requested 
by the AAIB. 

This interim report updates and provides further details on 
the history of the flight and the research done by teams in 
both the U.K. and U.S. using data obtained from the accident 
aircraft, and similar aircraft in the British Airways fleet. 
The report further details the aircraft fuel systems and 
describes testing performed in laboratories, on an adapted 
fuel rig using actual aircraft components, in an engine test 
facility, and on an exemplar engine.  In conclusion, the 
report provides recommendations for both interim action and 
longer term changes to certification criteria. 

Acting Chairman Rosenker stated, "When it comes to aviation 
safety, there are shared interests that transcend national 
borders."  Rosenker noted that the U.S. Accredited 
Representative and technical advisors fully participated in 
the development of the factual material and supporting 
research and that the recommendations are supported by the 
U.S. team.  

The investigation team indicated that a change to the fuel 
system design would make the system more resilient, but 
would take time to implement. Therefore, to reduce the risk 
of recurrence interim measures need to be adopted until such 
design changes to the fuel system are available. 

Therefore, the AAIB recommends that:

The Federal Aviation Administration and the European 
Aviation Safety Agency, in conjunction with Boeing and Rolls 
Royce, introduce interim measures for the Boeing 777, 
powered by Rolls Royce Trent 800 engines, to reduce the risk 
of ice formed from water in aviation turbine fuel causing a 
restriction in the fuel feed system (AAIB 2008-047), that

The Federal Aviation Administration and the European 
Aviation Safety Agency should take immediate action to 
consider the implications of the findings of this 
investigation on other certificated airframe/engine 
combinations (AAIB 2008-048), and that

The Federal Aviation Administration and the European 
Aviation Safety Agency review the current certification 
requirements to ensure that aircraft and engine fuel systems 
are tolerant to the potential build up and sudden release of 
ice in the fuel system (AAIB 2008-049).

The AAIB report is available at:
http://www.aaib.dft.gov.uk/cms_resources/G-YMMM%20Interim%20Report.pdf 


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NTSB Media Contact: Peter Knudson 202-314-6100
peter.knudson@xxxxxxxx

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