emzw55

Hello there,

I'm actually doing a case study on the crash of Lauda Air Flight NG004 over Thailand in 1991. I was just wondering if someone could explain to me a few things about the accident. I wasn't actually old enough at the time to remember it sooo

Were there any human factors/design problems with the thrust reverser system which contributed to the accident or to the flight crew activating the thrust reversers?? and overall how did the design of the 767 thrust reverser system actually contribute to the crash?? and what modifications were made to the 767 thrust reversers after the accident to prevent this from occuring again??

Is there anywhere on the net or elsewhere that i could find a schematic of the 767 thrust reverser system??

Perhaps some 767 drivers on here would be able to help me out??

Lots of questions i have i know, but absolutely any help would be appreciated,
Cheers

EDIT: ok i was just reading wikipedia (providing its trustworthy!!) and read that '"The Boeing 767-300 aircraft suffered an uncommanded deployment of the No. 1 thrust reverser, which caused the airliner to stall and crash." So, being uncommanded, i guess it was a systems failure???"

ZAGORFLY

I recomend the Macarthur Jpb book "air disaster " volume 2 pag.203-217

aerospace pubications pty ltd (ACN :001 570 458) 5 modification to the system where introduced as result of this incredible disaster.

I remember that a shoked Lauda released a statment saying that if the cause of the incident was not a terrorist attack he would have quit the industry.

it was not a terrorist attack.

grebllaw123d

Hello,

I am an old B767-300ER driver (1996-2003), and I very well remember this regrettable accident.

If you check the below link you will find the official report issued by the THAI authorities - very comprensive report.
I think that you will get answers to all your questions. There is even a schematic of the reverser system. The accident prompted a series of modifications, which may be studied on page 36 of the report.

Lauda Air B767 Accident Report

Best regards

grebllaw123d

A small addition: If you need other accident reports, check the database of the following link:

Aviation Safety Network >

IGh

"... any human factors/design problems with the thrust reverser system which contributed to the accident ..."

The AAR pg 29 offers the flight test conditions (slow speed w/ IDLE thrust) used during initial certification of the ThRevsrs -- this shows some of the same test-weaknesses as seen during the A300-600 RUDDER testing (poor test conditions).

From AAR pg 30:

"This accident indicates that changes in certification philosophy are necessary."

On June 14th, 1991, the _Seattle Times_ reported that the FAA never required, and Boeing never tested, the effects of a ThRevrsr deployment at higher altitudes under CLIMB THRUST conditions. AAR pg 25 bottom describes the lack of handling qualities just after ThReversr DEPLOYED. I felt that describing the problem as merely a "lift loss" for that wing was off-target; rather the Yaw x Roll = DIVE aspects, as in AA Flt One / 1Mar62, was a better metaphor.

On September 10th 1991 Niki Lauda called for a new design philosophy -- that STARTS with the assumption that faults with Reversers [then considered merely an auxiliary braking device] are as crucial as faults in flight controls. (_Seattle Times_, Sunday 15, 1991, pg E-2, "Chronology of Lauda saga".

[Keep in mind that the mysterious in-flight upset of the B737-291, at COS, had only recently happened, on 3March91 : Mountain Wave-Rotor? the crash axe? the Board's investigators hadn't yet seriously considered any possible flight control faults in that mysterious B737 inflight upset.]

The _Seattle Times_ then had an excellent aerospace reporting section, and did numerous detailed special reports on the investigation, with some good illustrations.

Not sure that anyone reported on the troubles in locating some of the components, the massive excavation, then learning about the scavengers' prize valve, kept safely in his home.

emzw55

Thanks to everyone for your help and for taking the time to reply to me and give me some information. highly appreciated!! The report looks like an interesting read...