Tupolev down in Surgut, Russia

[Super VC-10]

Sky news reporting a Tupolev (Tu-134??) has been involved in an accident at Surgut, Russia. Aircraft was taxiing for take-off when an engine exploded and caught fire. At least 1 dead.

Russia: Passenger Jet Explodes While Taxiing For Takeoff At Siberian Airport, One Person Dead | World News | Sky News (http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Russia-Passenger-Jet-Explodes-While-Taxiing-For-Takeoff-At-Siberian-Airport-One-Person-Dead/Article/201101115876465?lpos=World_News_First_Home_Article_Teaser_Re gion_0&lid=ARTICLE_15876465_Russia%3A_Passenger_Jet_Explodes_While_ Taxiing_For_Takeoff_At_Siberian_Airport%2C_One_Person_Dead)

[eu01]

Wasn't it due to the fuel leak while taxiing before the take-off?

[bizjets101]

At least one dead, three missing in plane explosion in Siberia (Update 3) | Russia | RIA Novosti (http://en.rian.ru/russia/20110101/162017397.html)

[L'aviateur]

At least one dead, three missing in plane explosion in Siberia (Update 3) | Russia | RIA Novosti (http://en.rian.ru/russia/20110101/162017397.html)

At least one person has died and another three are missing after an ensuing explosion and fire of a Russian Tu-154M passenger jet that made an emergency landing in the Siberian city of Surgut due to an engine flaming out on takeoff, a source in Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency, Rosaviatsiya, reported on Saturday.
"According to preliminary information, one person died and several others were injured in the ensuing fire on board the Tu-154M aircraft from Kogalymavia Airlines at the Surgut Airport," the source said.
Earlier it was reported that a Tu-134 passenger jet with 130 on board exploded after the emergency landing and that it belonged to Kolavia Airlines.
Rosaviatsia spokesman Sergei Izvolsky said there were 116 passengers and eight crew members on board the plane which was to land at Moscow's Domodedovo Airport.
Russian Investigative Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin said that four passengers had been hospitalized after the passengers were evacuated from the plane.
"Four people have been hospitalized due to toxic poisoning from the fire," Markin said.
A police source reiterated that one person had died in the accident and that another 10 had been injured, all of whom have been hospitalized.
A criminal case has been launched in connection with the airplane accident.

MOSCOW, January 1 (RIA Novosti)

[ARRAKIS]

RA-85588 is a Tu-154B-2.
Bad luck for the Tu-154 last months.

Arrakis

[Kulverstukas]

http://img.lenta.ru/news/2011/01/01/latest/picture.jpg

Three (including one children) dead (by Interfax), four with severe burnings, 44 total in hospital.

Video from SurgutInformTV (http://www.sitv.ru/arhiv/news/incidents/27461/)

http://img.beta.rian.ru/images/31635/21/316352123.jpg

Video from Rossia 24 TV (http://smotri.com/video/view/?id=v16315668276)

[kblackburn]

5 hull losses in less than a year. Makes one wonder.

Aging aircraft, etc so yeah, maybe.

I have flown twice on a 154 and thought it was a pretty solid bit of kit. Only complaint I had was when I nearly got deafened taking a leak in the rear head, next to the powerplants.

I suspect the problem is that some companies are pushing this graceful aircraft to unacceptable limits. Like any lady, if you don't look after her she will bite back and then some.

KB

[kblackburn]

Fair point GobonaStick....

Also, I see the online media are trying to out-do each other and solve the case in 5 minutes flat. I have read that the 154 was both taxying for T/O and that it had already returned for an emergency landing :confused: Same old eh...

KB

[rp122]

"A Kolavia Tupolev TU-154B2, registration RA-85588 performing flight 7K-348 from Surgut to Moscow Domodedovo (Russia) with 116 passengers and 8 crew, was preparing for takeoff from Surgut when an engine (NK-8 ) caught fire. The crew could not extinguish the fire which spread into the fuselage. The airplane was evacuated. . The aircraft burned down completely.
Three killed, dozens injured."

Source (http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=2d8_1293911054)

[samuelmj1]

BBC News - Russia pop group Na-Na describe plane fire 'panic' (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12103190)

[kwateow]

Flightglobal reporting that MAK believes:

... as the engines on the Tu-154 were started, the fire developed "as a result of a short-circuit in on-board electrical equipment"...

By the way, anyone know when the 787 might fly again?

[barit1]

Where is the APU located in the TU154B?

[andrasz]

Where is the APU located in the TU154B?

In the tail, above the #2 engine. A video of another APU fire during taxi 3 months ago:
Tu-154 burns - Accidents - Avsim R Us (http://www.avsimrus.com/f/accidents-88/tu-154-burns-34045.html?action=viewonline)

[SaturnV]

Perhaps something is lost in the translation, but passing along a link to a news story from AP that Russia's "transport oversight agency" has ordered the grounding of TU-154Bs.

Russia orders halt to Tu-154B flights after fire - Yahoo! News (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110102/ap_on_bi_ge/eu_russia_plane_explodes)

[747JJ]

On a previous post, deleted by someone for what reason I do not know, I wrote: "5 hull losses in less than a year. Makes one wonder."

Let me be a bit more precise. I meant TU154 hull losses.

The fact that a type has had 5 accidents in less than a year is quite relevant. I will not go into guessing what these reasons are but I am sure there is no single contributing factor but as with all accidents, the final outcome is the end of a long chain of events etc.

[Kulverstukas]

YouTube - Eyewitness video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kQSQlb7MuA&feature=player_embedded)

NO engine fires. Favorite version on aviaforum.ru - fireworks+booze in cargo or in hand luggage.

[fatbus]

Why did it take so long to start the pax evac?

[Kulverstukas]

fatbus fire brigade seems not very effective too

[lomapaseo]

Perhaps something is lost in the translation, but passing along a link to a news story from AP that Russia's "transport oversight agency" has ordered the grounding of TU-154Bs.

Russia orders halt to Tu-154B flights after fire - Yahoo! News (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110102/ap_on_bi_ge/eu_russia_plane_explodes)


Somethings missing here

The expected response to this accident would be to determine the source and quantity of the fuel, the probable ignition and how the fire got into the cabin so quickly. Then to define a corrective action program and time frame which would then be the news story.

To say that you don't know the answers to those post incident fundamental question and that the type must be grounded is astounding.

I grant you that it does take some time to understand all the details, but on the basis of a single accident you rarely ground (remove from service all aircraft) a large established fleet unless you already have replacement aircraft available to fill the gap.

edited to add:

it seems that a dual running thread on this accident has provided the missing info

[kms901]

To my untrained eye, that fire is in the cabin. Definitely nowhere near the rear mounted engines.

[andrasz]

I grant you that it does take some time to understand all the details, but on the basis of a single accident you rarely ground (remove from service all aircraft) a large established fleet unless you already have replacement aircraft available to fill the gap.

Before we all get carried away, the grounding affects the B-2 variant, of which there are 14 left in operation. The vast majority of Tu-154s in service are the newer M model (new engines, flaps, avionics).

[Kulverstukas]

andrasz and only 7 in civil service (http://www.rostransnadzor.ru/rostrans/news/index.php?ELEMENT_ID=4056), rest belongs to AF cargo (223th fleet (http://www.vinavia.com/airlines/23443671002010426.shtml)).

[BOAC]

To my untrained eye, that fire is in the cabin. Definitely nowhere near the rear mounted engines- picture 2, post #7?

[andrasz]

To my untrained eye, that fire is in the cabin...

Looking at post #7/pic 2, I agree with the above. The flames are coming out of the opened emergency exits (on both sides there is one aft just before the engine inlet, and two overwing), there is nothing visible on the photos that would indicate an engine (or even APU) fire.

Note however that the fuel lines run under the cabin floor, with the pumps on any unnoticed fire fed by ruptured fuel lines would quickly spread under the cabin. The old Tu-154s had plywood floorboards (I believe the M has fiberglass boards), not exactly a fire retarding material...

Whatever happened there, clearly there was a massive sustained fire from the start that quickly spread along the length of the fuselage. The fireworks/vodka combination in passenger luggage is not an entirely implausible one, given the time of the year...

[BOAC]

There is another exit on the Tu-154 which is positioned at the point where the rear flames are emerging in that picture, as pointed out in the Flightglobal article. - there is an exit right by the No2 intake?:eek:

[RegDep]

BOAC,

Yes.

http://www.onerateads.com/images/3V-T8-TUPO154.jpg

[andrasz]

there is an exit right by the No2 intake?

Actually, no. The exits are by the #1 and #3 intakes, on both sides. However the exits are not quite in front, but partially behind the intakes, opening into the gap between the engine and the fuselage just in front of the engine pylon. They were probably designed to be outside the suction zone, though I'm not sure I would really like to test that in practice...

Edit: these exits were actually an afterthought, they were added on the B variants to allow the maximum seating capacity go up to 180 (from 163). The older (pre-1974) A variants did not have them.

[BOAC]

Well. as you say, andrasz. Of course I meant no3 - just couldn't count!

[andrasz]

Of course, reply was tongue in cheek :)

[jcjeant]

Hi,

The fireworks/vodka combination in passenger luggage is not an entirely implausible one, given the time of the year...

Where is the TSA when you need them ? :O

[andrasz]

Where is the TSA when you need them ?

Perhaps having vodka while watching fireworks... ? :E

[Kulverstukas]

CVR found

????????? ???????? — ???????? «?????? ???? ? ??-154 ?-2» (http://mreporter.ru/reports/8787)

[Kulverstukas]

MAK update on investigation posted recently. It's prooved that engines and starters are NOT cause of fire. Fire begins in the place between 62-65 frames.

http://aviaforum.ru/attachment.php?attachmentid=217185&thumb=1&d=1294154886

[atakacs]

Anything noteworthy in this location ?

[andrasz]

Anything noteworthy in this location ?

Rear cargo compartment / end of passenger cabin with lavatories.
No principal systems there, though plenty of cables + fuel lines underfloor.

Electric short circuit, lavatory fire (smoking) or something in checked baggage all appear to be possibilities.

[Kulverstukas]

http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/6329/777cd.jpg

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/9453/888nv.jpg

[5 APUs captain]

The only known at the moment: After engine start and selecting the generators ON the black smoke has appeared from the rear toilet.....

[vovachan]

Latest MAK update says preliminary analysis of the FDR shows electrical systems problems the day before the fire.

[Kulverstukas]

Video from CCTV camers

YouTube - Tu 154 on fire (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFSTAAwTlvM)

[747JJ]

Kulvertukas. Thanks for a very interesting link.

It is apparent how fast the fire spread, similarly to the China Airlines 737 in Japan.

Cockpit to Cabin communication in a fire situation must be quick and precise. Not much extra time if any to decide a course of action.

[5 APUs captain]

Old model TU-154-B2 does not have INFLATED slides which are installed in new version TU-154M.
The fire brigade was awaiting for all PAX leaving the airplane (what they are saying).
PIC did not beleve the fire is real and delayed the evacuation (something like that -still no official info).

[Kulverstukas]

Old model TU-154-B2 does not have INFLATED slides which are installed in new version TU-154M.


Wrong. Slide from 2nd door was not deployed because door was opened by pax who don't know how to open it (proofs from the witness pax on aviaforum.ru). Exits on the wings doesn't have slides. Tail exits was on fire, so deploing slides was prohibited.

PIC did not beleve the fire is real and delayed the evacuation (something like that -still no official info).

There is NO confirmation about that. Besides, two las rows was occuped by spare crew (8 person) who made a lot of evaquation task and without them, it is belived, fatality rate may be dozens. :=

[Carbon Bootprint]

I'm not sure why it did not deploy when the exits first popped open about 2:18 into the video, but at 3:44 what appears to be an inflatable slide is visible at door 1L.

[lomapaseo]

The video seems to confirm that given that you have flame in the cabin, once a door is open you have to move fast due to the chimney effect. The problem is that passengers have no experience in rapid evacuations.

I've seen some cabin interiors where even the cabin roof was locally burned through far foward of a fire origin after the doors were opened, while no burn throughs existed anywhere else in the cabin.

[Kulverstukas]

why it did not deploy when the exits first popped open about 2:18 into the video

There was a panic in the second saloon, paxes pushed FA through to the first saloon and door was open by inexperienced pax.

(From witness: "The the woman to the right of my wife tried to open the door, but was unable to do so (the lever is on the left side). My wife has asked a man with coat in hand, standing left, to help, since she herself was helding our small daughter. Although she was not sure that was he who opened the door. Once the door was open, they try to throw slip, but without success, so they packed it back to avoid interference.")
You can see her and the child at 3:10 at this video.

[liider]

Both Tu-154 B and M do not have automatically deploying slides as western airliners have. The slide should be manually taken out of the box, fixed in the doorway, thrown down, and then by pressing the handle its inflation should be activated.

In this case the stewardess was not able for quick decision of required evacuation, and tried to calm down the passengers and asked them to sit back on the seats, however, people from the back side of the plane pressed forward and soon the stewardess was swept far from the exit by the crowd. No one of passengers of course didn't know how to deploy the slide, and when it became really bad, they started jumping from the 3m height.

The slide from the first exit was deployed by the Flight Engineer.

[Kulverstukas]

CCTV video, unedited

YouTube - Surgut Tu-154 on fire Cam-1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fI3u9_49YQ&feature=player_embedded)

YouTube - Surgut Tu-154 on fire Cam-2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYB2WjhUVeU&feature=player_embedded)

[Ancient Mariner]

Don't know about this particular model of Tu154, but flew one in China long time ago and was seated a long way aft on the port side. Next to me was the emergency exit, which was very close to the engine and in place of the window seat was a box containing the slide. The procedure said something like:
Remove emergency exit,
Open box containing slide.
Throw slide out.
Open gas cylinder to inflate slide.
Jump, sucker.
Found it amusing at the time.
Per