Also, please keep in mind that the airplane is said to have "bounced around" a few times (after touching ground), the extend of those "bounces" not clearly stated. So perhaps the airplane had all wheels off the ground more than once. There seems to be skid marks both, on the runaway and off of it and first sign of potentially broken airplane parts some 140m off the strip.
A wing is said to have hit the ground briefly at some point, but it's totally unclear if it was after some "bouncing" or as it first "fell" or at what point during the accident. It was stated that the airplane "continued" after the wing (believed to be "mild") impact. The wing hitting the ground could be the reason of the first loose parts found (pure speculation on my side).
Obviously many other broken parts or pieces could've come off the airplane soon after hitting the ground presumably "hard" with all that weight (fuel for the 2.5h flight+full PAX).
A better transcript of the Spanair explanation of the return-to-gate situation has been reported. It's 100% clear now that the automatic switch of the probe heater was disconnected (i.e. not the probe itself). Four key quoted literally-translated sentences:
-Malfunction of the heater of the ouside air temperature ...
-Its function to avoid formation of ice during flight ...
-The mechanism that activates the heater was disconnected ...
-Not fully repaired inmediately because there was no risk of ice formation during the flight...
A detail of the timeline:
-13,05 Plane leaves finger.
-13,42 Plane comes back to finger.
-Tecnician works with pilot on malfunction for 33minutes.
-14,15 Plane leaves finger for second attempt to take-off.
-14,24 Ground control clears plane for take-off.
Technician is confirmed 41yo, 20 years experience (9 for Spanair), with current valid license by Dirección General de Aviación Civil for MD82, and airbuses 319, 320 and 321. Companies in charge of maintenance of the airplane: Spanair, with Iberia y Lufthansa Technik in charge of major maintenance and Volvo, ITR México and Aerothrust for the engines.
As you know, Spanair is wholly owned by Scandinavian Airways SAS headquartered in Sweden. Maintenance standards in Spain are relatively high, and this is the first accident with victims in Madrid in 25 years (and I believe may be the worst in number of victims also). The airplane involved was 15yo, about 5 for Korean Airlines and about 10 for Spanair, with 31.961 hours of flytime. Major 5-year revision passed Jan 24th, minor (120 days) revision May 23rd, annual flyability license permit about to expire in 9 days (administrative requirement involving only flying an inspector with access to the cabin during a regular routine flight with PAX).
Last edited by justme69; 24th Aug 2008 at 16:28.