By Simon Hradecky, created Sunday, Jan 18th 2009 21:53Z, last updated Sunday, Jan 18th 2009 21:59Z
The NTSB reported about first data from the flight data and cockpit voice recorder in their last public brief today. The data quality of both recorders is excellent, the FDR features 700 parameters.
According to the FDR the engines started to run down simultaneously as the airplane climbed through 2700-3000 feet. The airplane subsequently reached a maximum altitude of 3200 feet. This ties in with the observation, that the airplane intersected a string of primary targets visible on the radar (but not to the NY departure controller). The rolldown of the engines was very rapid and went below idle setting.
The cockpit voice recorder contains the whole flight from before engine startup. Flight preparation, working the various checklists and takeoff were routine. About 90 seconds after liftoff the captain remarks about birds, about 3 seconds later thumps are being heard and the engines can be heard running down. This is 210 seconds before the end of recording. The captain confirms loss of power and takes control of the airplane. He then calls MAYDAY (which wasn't briefed by NTSB so far), reported to ATC that they hit birds and lost both engines. The first officer is attempting to restart the engines, but isn't successful. 90 seconds before splash down the captain advises cabin "Brace for impact" via the PA, then tells ATC "We're gonne be in the Hudson", the Ground Proximity warning systems triggers and continues throughout the remainder of the flight.
The NTSB described the atmosphere in the cockpit as a very calm collected exercise (the spokeswoman even remarked "routine conversation, I was more nerveous[listening to the tape, editor's note] than them").
The airplane is currently on a barge, which is estimated to move to New Jersey late Sunday after the airplane has been defueled.
The first stage fan blades of the right engine are intact, there is damage (denting) to the front cowling of the engine (editor's note: probably meant engine inlet). Both wings show leading edge damage, the right wing is badly damaged and leaks fuel. The belly underneath the tail is badly damaged, all doors to belly compartments opened causing bad damage there, too.
Because of the fuel leakage it was decided to defuel the airplane on the barge before moving it to a workshop in New Jersey.
The left hand engine may have been located in the Hudson river, there has been one sonar return of interest, which has not been known to local authorities so far. Additional survey is currently being done on that object before probably divers will be sent down to prepare the object for recovery.
The NTSB said, that "Miracle of the Hudson" is a wonderful picture, although both flight and cabin crew had been trained for years to do this.