A340 crashed into barrier during engine tests

[NM]

From news.com.au

10 injured in Airbus crash

AN Airbus A340-600 carrying out engine tests crashed into an anti-noise barrier at Toulouse airport in southwest France overnight, injuring 10 people.

"The nine people on board were all evacuated and we do not know the condition of the injured,'' an Airbus official said.

The plane was "seriously damaged".

 

[codash1099]

From Airbus.com

Industrial accident at Airbus facility
15 November 2007

Airbus deeply regrets to confirm that an accident occurred at its Saint-Martin site in Toulousethis afternoon.

The accident occurred at 5:00 pm local time, when engine-run-ups were being carried out on an A340-600, MSN 856, which was due to be delivered to Etihad in the coming days.

There were nine persons on board out of them five people sustained injuries. There are no fatalities.

At this time, recovery operations are still in progress and Airbus staff is working closely with the emergency services and local authorities at the site.

Airbus expresses its sympathy to the families and friends of the persons concerned.

Airbus will provide the full support to the official investigation authorities in France.

Editors’ note: Airbus will release further information as soon as it is available.

Picture here PHOTOS: A340-600 jumps chocks, hits wall; 5 injured-15/11/2007-Washington DC-Flightglobal.com

 

[NM]

I guess now they will refine the testing procedure to ensure the park break is tested before the engines are tested.

I would expect Etihad will be reluctant to accept a repaired aircraft, but trying to get them slotting in for a new one will mean a long delivery delay. I expect there will be some serious compensation discussions between Etihad and Airbus in the next few days.

 

[simongr]

It would depend surely on the overall delivery schedule. If Etihad have more aircraft on the way then the replacement for this would just be the delay between the delivery of this aircraft and the expected delivery of the next a/c.

This would be a significant cost problem for Airbus though.

 

[NYCguy]

OUCH... That aircraft looks badly hurt!

Methinks they will be building a new one for Etihad!

 

[codash1099]

Some reports are coming that the aircraft is a complete write-off.

Expensive scrap!

 

[Brettmcg]

Some reports are coming that the aircraft is a complete write-off.

Expensive scrap!

I would suggest there is no doubt it is a write off. The footage just shown on Seven News was of the nose of the plane hanging by a thread over the fence.

 

[straitman]

I would suggest there is no doubt it is a write off. The footage just shown on Seven News was of the nose of the plane hanging by a thread over the fence.

Leaves little doubt in my mind :!:

 

[Brettmcg]

For your reference

 

[Shano]

Someone will miss out on their bonus this year.

Just fortunate that there were no fatalities

 

[Mal]

Ouch!

Now that's one engine test that went seriously wrong.

Wonder what's salvageable before it goes to the scrap metal yard.

 

[Evan]

Wonder what's salvageable before it goes to the scrap metal yard.

I would suspect not all that much ! engines maybe, interior.
Probably not worth testing many parts or trying to see if they are damaged, easier just to assume they are damaged.

E

 

[NM]

Now we know what happens when they accidentally install A380 engines onto an A340 resulting in more thrust than breaking capability.

 

[straitman]

I would suspect not all that much ! engines maybe, interior.
Probably not worth testing many parts or trying to see if they are damaged, easier just to assume they are damaged.

E

It would be safe to assume that the engines will need at least a partial strip down.

How embarrassing is this whole incident :?:

 

[JohnK]

Wonder what's salvageable before it goes to the scrap metal yard.

I hope that it gets to the scrap metal yard quickly before someone gets silly thoughts on their mind.

 

[maninblack]

Nearly 1100 kn of thrust on this HGW aircraft and little payload, thats a lot of power to weight. The front section is essentially snapped off ...nasty. This is a hull loss for sure. Things like this don't get repaired. Nor would the customer ever want the aircraft.

 

[oz_mark]

Nearly 1100 kn of thrust on this HGW aircraft and little payload, thats a lot of power to weight.

But not something that hadn't been done before. Some sort of mistake led to this, time will tell just what that was.

 

[maninblack]

But not something that hadn't been done before. Some sort of mistake led to this, time will tell just what that was.

Absolutely. A report I read said that of the 9 onboard, 7 were Etihad staff, 2 from Airbus. Wonder who was at the controls? I am no expert but I am pretty certain the wheel chocks wouldn't hold this monster if the engines were spooled up to full power and something went amiss with the brakes or the people controlling them in the coughpit.

 

[v8Statesman]

Now we know what happens when they accidentally install A380 engines onto an A340 resulting in more thrust than breaking capability.

But PER-SYD in 43mins

 

[NYCguy]

I'm not an insurance man, but I'm confidently calling "write-off" on that one!