Some more elaboration from the media in Spain.
August 17th (3 days before the accident) the airplane was subjected to a revision by two company technicians after the RIGHT engine showed a diagnosis light on the reverser (more precisely , the electronic control system to deploy it), according to documentation given to the judge. Some anomaly on a valve on the hydraulic system involved with the device was found as the cause. No leaks could be found.
It's unclear at this point (conflicting reports) if the fault was (thought to be) fixed or if the repairs were delayed and the reverser locked-out of service. Most sources speak of the item repair being delayed and the pilots knowing about it and unable to make use of the device, other (one source) speaks of it having been fixed. Regardless, everyone agrees it wasn't necessary to have it working for the flight (both airstrips were long enough).
The reverser has appeared deployed on that RIGHT engine according to most sources, while one major newpapers explicitly RETRACTS the previous information and now says that it was the LEFT engine that was found with the deployed reverser.
Of course it could've been deployed on purpose while on the ground and trying to brake, or become loose from the impacts, etc.
Aiport ground radar data was reviewed and found the airplane to reach 170kt (error marging up to 30km/h). Regardless, seemed to have reached enough speed to rotate and lose contact with the ground.
That same plane had an aborted T/O less than a month ago by another pilot flying Mallorca-Copenhagen because he observed "excessive noise from the landing gear".
Last edited by justme69; 28th Aug 2008 at 11:53.