Footage displays signs of double engine malfunction on Air India's AN171 aircraft
Hear It Loud and Clear: Air India Crash Culprit Revealed?
Straight Talk, No Bull!
Hey there, bud! Ever wondered what really went down with Air India flight AI171, you know, the one that crashed just after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12? Well, buckle up, 'cause we've got the juice!
A bloody clear video, believe it or not, is causing quite the buzz on social media. This 18-second clip is sharper than the rest, and more importantly, it's loud as hell – capturing the unmistakable whir of the aircraft's Ram Air Turbine (RAT) deploying in those final, fateful moments.
Experts say that's crucial.
See, the RAT is like the best life-saver a plane can get in an emergency. A small wind-powered turbine hidden inside the fuselage, it only pops out during extreme situations, such as when both engines are kaput or critical electrical/hydraulic systems fail. And on modern birds like the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, it's seen as the absolute last line of defense, as most pilots never need to flip this bad boy on.
But in the case of AI171, aviation gurus reckon the RAT's deployment suggests a catastrophic double engine failure, practically from the get-go.
"It wasn't meant to be activated when the plane's at 400 or 500 feet with all power, dunnit?" one expert bluntly stated. "But it gives you just what you need to fly and yak it up."
Once the RAT gets spinning, it feeds off the airstream created by the plane's forward motion. Depending on the bird, the RAT either goes straight for the hydraulic systems or generates electricity to keep crucial avionics humming along, such as:
- Instruments that display your height, speed, and direction
- Flight controls like ailerons, elevators, and rudders
- Navigation tools like GPS and flight management systems
- Radios for hollering for help
In most cases, the RAT deploys automatically in emergencies. Pilots also have the option to manually kick it into gear from the cockpit.
Remember the US Airways flight 1549, the one they booted the hell out of the Hudson River back in 2009? The RAT came to the rescue when that bad boy lost both engines after running into a flock of freakin' geese! The RAT kept the Airbus A320's vital tools alive, enabling the crew to make a successful ditching, saving all 155 souls on board!
For investigators trying to piece together the fate of AI171, that RAT whirring in the new video offers a lead they can really sink their teeth into. It suggests that the Dreamliner took a total power loss – a scenario that's super rare and downright terrifying for a cutting-edge plane like that.
With the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) now dug up from the wreckage, it'll only be a matter of weeks before an initial report clues us in on what the hell happened.
Now, on to the nitty-gritty! The right engine, the one causing all the ruckus, had been replaced just three months prior to the crash, while the left engine hadn't been serviced since 2023, with the next check set for December 2025. Both engines had clean records, making this double failure, especially shortly after takeoff, pretty darn surprising and under the microscope of investigators.
Take it easy, mate! Keep it locked on Airline Ratings for more sh*t that goes down in the skies.
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For the curious...
- Catastrophic dual engine failure: Extremely rare and severe event that occurs when both engines on an aircraft fail simultaneously.
- Ram Air Turbine (RAT): An emergency device on an aircraft that deploys during extreme situations such as total engine failure or complete loss of electrical/hydraulic power. It provides enough power to maintain essential flight controls and communication systems.
- Maintenance lapses: Oversights or neglect in the upkeep of an aircraft's engines or systems, often due to human error or poor management.
- Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR): Device installed in an aircraft cockpit to record communications and sounds from the flight deck during flight.
Sources:[1] Business Standard[2] Indian Express[3] The Economic Times[4] AP News[5] The Hindu
The video, creating a stir on social media, could potentially reignite discussions within the aviation industry regarding the recent Air India crash. The whirring sound of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) in the 18-second clip might provide revealing insights about the finance and maintenance aspects of the Airline industry's transportation sector, potentially shedding light on the unfortunate accident.
Despite the Air India flight AI171's engines having clean records, the double failure shortly after takeoff, especially with one engine recently replaced and the other not serviced since 2023, serves as a wake-up call for scrutinizing the aviation industry's maintenance protocols, lest they overlook potential industry-wide issues impacting the safety of modern aircraft like the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
