Update at 2010-11-09 0550UTC from
ATSB
Flight crew interviews
The ATSB today commenced interviews in Sydney with the flight crew, and are being assisted by an Airbus A380 test pilot. The flight crew interviews will provide an understanding of the aircraft's performance during the emergency, and of the flight crew's actions to recover from that emergency. The flight crew will also be able to advise what went well during their management of the emergency. This will provide highly useful safety lessons for managing similar incidents in the future.
Aircraft examination continuing
The aircraft has now been moved to a hangar at Changi Aerodrome. An initial internal examination of the No 2 engine has been carried out using a slender optical periscope (borescope). The engine is expected to be removed from the aircraft's wing for technical examination during the next few days.
Locating aircraft components
The ATSB has mapped the damage to the aircraft. This map is being used with relevant recorded flight data to localise the search on Bantam Island for the remaining engine and other debris. The ATSB is working with the Indonesian Transportation Safety Committee and Batam Island authorities to recover those components. ATSB investigators are particularly interested in recovering the remainder of the fractured turbine disk. The ATSB advises Bantam island residents to avoid handling any of the aircraft components due to potential health risks.
Turbine disk examination
ATSB investigators have arrived at the Rolls Royce facility in Derby, the United Kingdom to examine the recovered portion of the No 2 engine turbine disk. A copy of the recorded flight data has been provided to the engine and aircraft manufacturers by the respective accredited representatives. This will allow the manufacturers to assist with a full understanding of the data and its implications for the investigation.
An investigation of this complexity can take up to a year to complete. However, should any critical safety issues emerge, the ATSB will immediately bring those issues to the attention of the relevant authorities.