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Crash Of Airbus Etihad A340-600 At Toulouse Airport Is Urban Myth
It was reported as the "largest passenger airplane ever built". It is not. It has been reported that a major news blackout was created in France and other areas in connection with this incident because it was deemed insulting to "Moslim Arabs". There wasn't. It was reported that Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies (ADAT) personnel circumvented critical safety protocols causing the crash. They didn't.
If you received an e-mail from someone that you know describing an incident involving an Airbus A340-600 aircraft accident that happened in France back in November, 2007, it is a hoax. The crash is true, but the reason for the accident is falsely reported in an e-mail circulated around the Internet in order to spread hate.
Known Facts About A340-600
As of 19 November 2008, the Airbus A340-600 has not had a fatal incident, but there have been five hull-loss accidents including the blast wall crash at Toulouse Blagnac International Airport on the 15th of November 2007, six days prior to the airplane's planned delivery to Etihad Airways. It was Designed to replace the Boeing 747. The A340-600 carries 380 passengers in a three-class cabin layout. It can fly non-stop over 7,500 nautical miles. It provides similar passenger capacity to a 747 but with 25% more cargo volume, and at lower trip and seat costs. The first flight of the A340-600 was made on 23 April 2001. Virgin Atlantic began commercial services using this plane in August of 2002.
The A340-600 is more than 30 feet longer than a basic Airbus -300, making it the longest airliner currently in production. It is more than 12 feet longer than the Boeing 747-400. The Airbus A340-600 will likely continue to hold the record for being the worlds longest commercial aircraft until the first Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental is rolled out in 2010. It is powered by four 56,000 lb. thrust Rolls-Royce Trent 556 turbofans.
An accident occurred at Airbus Saint-Martin site in Toulouse on the 15th November at 5 pm local time, when engine-run-ups were being carried out
on an A340-600, MSN 856 (to be A6-EHG), which was to be delivered to Etihad in the coming days. The A340-600 jumped its chocks during an engine test and the nose went up and through a blast wall. The airplane was substantially damaged and written off.
Resources:
Here is a link to our original story about this incident
Here is a link to the actual Airbus website: www.airbus.com
Here is a link to the actual accident report for this very incident translated into English from French on the Professional Pilots Rumour Network
Here is a section of that report noting its conclusions:
3.2 Causes of the accident
The accident is due to the run up on all 4 engines at the same time, without wheel chocks, and during which the total engine thrust was close to the parking brake capacity.
The lack of a detection process and deviation correction in the ground test procedure, in a context of industrial and commercial pressure, promoted the operation of a test outside of the established procedures.
The sudden onset of aircraft movement led the ground testing technician to focus on the braking system; therefore he did not think to reduce the thrust of the engines.
Here is a link to Snopes.com debunking the fake story:
Here is a link to the Professional Pilots Rumour Network Forum. A place where you can research such stuff:
Photo of the aftermath
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Airbus 340-600 specs.
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About The Author:
This article was written by Mark Soveign who writes for Wertheim Communications LLC as well as Mooker.Com Did you like this story? If so, vote for it on your favorite bookmarks site: |
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