The F/O didn't have time to get to page 3 of his QRH Dual Engine Failure Ditching where it states "Ditching PB"
This release might help folk:
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- >First Officer Jeffrey B. Skiles, joined US Airways (USAir) in 1986. He has a total of 15,643 flight hours and previously flew as Captain with US Airways.
- Flight Attendant Sheila Dail joined US Airways (Piedmont Airlines) in 1980 and has more than 28 years experience with the airline.
- Flight Attendant Doreen Welsh joined US Airways (Allegheny Airlines) in 1970 and has more than 38 years experience with the airline.
- Flight Attendant Donna Dent joined US Airways (Piedmont Airlines) in 1982 and has more than 26 years experience with the airline.
NTSB PRESS CONFERENCES: The following are highlights of the two NTSB press Conferences held on Saturday.
[FONT='Verdana', 'sans-serif']1600 press conference:
- Since there was little to report, the NTSB decided to hold another press conference at 8:00pm.
- Onboard was one lap child and one toddler.
- Since the weight of the airplane full of water was approximately 1 million pounds, it needed to be lifted very gradually to let water drain from the aircraft.
- Water depth at impact was 50-55 feet.
- A correction to prior information, the right engine is still attached; still looking for the left engine.
- ATC communications were read out loud: of particular interest to us was the crew stating, "Cactus 1549 hit birds - lost thrust both engines – turning back to LGA"
- TEB airport was discussed, pilots stated,"...we can’t do it..."
- Two Flight Attendants were interviewed. They reported hearing loud thuds/thumps and all engine noise ceased, aircraft sounded, [/font]"...like a library..."
- Captain announced, "brace for impact;" F/A’s yelled,"Brace, Brace, Brace"
- Left front slide needed manual inflation.
- Front door, 2’-3’ above water line.
- Captain returned to aircraft twice to check for passengers. Captain and crew members were the last to leave. 'sans-serif']2000 press conference:
- NYPD has good radar “hit” on the lost engine. NOAA boat is en-route 3rd F/A has been released from hospital. Her account - "loud thunk, smelled electrical smell". Harder landing description than other F/A’s described (AFT B flight attendant position). No broken leg, deep lacerations.
- This was the last leg of a 4-day trip. They had flown PIT-CLT-LGA & were on their way to CLT
- >Captain, 3800 hrs in A-320
- >First Officer, 35 hours in an A-320
- >First Officer was initial PF
- >First Officer stated he saw birds 3-5000’ off to his right
- >Captain looked up & said the windscreen was filled w/big dark brown birds. Said his reaction was to duck
- >Captain smelled burning birds
- >Loss of thrust, Captain, “my aircraft”. First Officer, “your aircraft”. Captain lowered nose because speed had decreased
- >Captain said power loss was symmetrical
- >Captain took over as PF & called for the Dual Engine failure check list
- >Captain said initial plan was to return to LGA. He said he was too slow & too low, it was too populated. Teterboro was too far, populated and would be catastrophic if he didn’t make it. As stated in earlier brief, he stated, "going to be in the Hudson".
- >Captain focused on flying
- >First Officer focused on checklist & starting engines
- This checklist is meant to run at FL350
- Captain called for flaps 2
- Captain made the “brace” call over the P/A
- >Captain said he had been trained to ditch near a vessel if able, so he tried to land close to a boat
- >The aircraft lost electrical once in the water
- Captain called for Evacuation, F/A’s had already initiated it
- Captain stated that, "he could not be more happy that he got everyone off”.
Question session: - First Officer saw the birds, noted to himself that they were in a nice line
- Ditching P/B was not pushed. It is on page 3 of the checklist; they didn’t get to it
- First Officer, while low time in AB, but typed in other aircraft, glass cockpit, has been a Captain before, IOE was completed.
- Captain estimated the aircraft hit the birds between 220 & 250kts
- How did F/A get lacerations? Don’t know. Water was cold; she didn’t know she was hurt initially. After she sent passengers up the isle, she realized she was bleeding & got herself out and into the raft
- Is CVR powered after crash? Powered until power goes out.