Etihad A340-600 jumps chocks, hits wall; 5 injured

[quik!]

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles...5-injured.html

Etihad A340-600 jumps chocks, hits wall; 5 injured
By Stephen Trimble

Airbus confirms an A340-600 was damaged and five people were injured in a ground test accident at the company’s Saint-Martin site in Toulouse.

The aircraft sustained damage when it somehow broke free of its parking chocks during engine run-ups around 5 pm, local time. News photos taken at the scene show the aircraft's nose rammed through a blast deflection wall.

“At this time, recovery operations are still in progress and Airbus staff is working closely with the emergency services and local authorities at the site,” an Airbus statement says.


Aircraft jumps chocks at Toulouse Picture: DR

Nine people were aboard the aircraft at the time of the accident. The condition of the five injured person was not immediately available.

“Airbus expresses its sympathy to the families and friends of the [injured] persons concerned,” the company adds.

The aircraft, with tail number MSN 856, was due to be delivered to Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways, "in the coming days," Airbus says.

[milehighj]

Wow! Looks like a write-off to me. Is aircraft insurance in effect before delivery??

[Tim]

This vessel is wearing the French registration:

F-WWCJ (cn 856)

Its designated registration in the UAE is A6-EHG. So technically it has not been officially handed over to Etihad. The A340-600 is still owned by Airbus and is insured on the policy of EADS with a maximum hull insurance value possible.

The insurer is La Reunion and the damage was irrecoverable.

[milehighj]

I was searching on A.nut for more info and found this picture of this IB A346 also just recently heavily damaged...

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1291038/M/

[SQFAN]

Post #1 : Additional Pictures

Received these pictures in an email from a colleague when she was back home in Toulouse.

These pictures are not copyrighted to me. The owner cannot be traced. If the owner come across these pictures, please get in contact with me or the Forum moderator & we will take the necessary action.

[quik!]

OMG - that is worst than I had expected. Total WRITE-OFF

[Singapore_Air]

fadsfda

A spokesman for Etihad confirms that the aircraft has been written off.

[9V-JKL]

Wow! I didn't realise it would be that bad.

I wonder how that's going to mess up Etihad's schedules

[WSSS]

OMG. Didn't know the crash was that bad, shocking!

[YK@HKG]

Wow...that was a horrible accident
Wat a disappointment for both Airbus and Etihad.

[Lobster]

Got to say looking at these photos it is a miracle no one was killed.

[nickbot]

Got to say looking at these photos it is a miracle no one was killed.

Exactly what I was thinking! The state of the cockpit - OMG

[MovieMan]

That is an amazing amount of damage based on the initial description of the accident ("The aircraft sustained damage..."!). The plane must have been going quite fast.

Too bad about the total loss of the plane, but it was lucky no one was killed.

[Tim]

Credit www.flightglobal.com

..."
FROM : AIRBUS FLIGHT SAFETY DEPARTMENT TOULOUSE

SUBJECT: A340-600 - MSN 856 - ACCIDENT IN PRODUCTION OUR REF.: F-WWCJ AIT 2 DATED 20th OF NOVEMBER 2007 PREVIOUS REF: F-WWCJ AIT 1 DATED 16th OF NOVEMBER 2007

THIS AIT IS AN UPDATE OF PREVIOUS AIT N°1 CONCERNING THE A340-600 PRODUCTION AIRCRAFT MSN 856 INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN AIRBUS PRODUCTION FACILITIES IN TOULOUSE ON THE 15TH NOVEMBER 2007 AT 17:00 LOCAL TIME.

THE FOLLOWING IS THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS ACCORDING TO THE RECORDERS, WHICH HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR RELEASE BY THE FRENCH INVESTIGATION AUTHORITIES (BEA).

FOR ABOUT 3 MINUTES BEFORE THE END OF THE EVENT, ALL FOUR ENGINES EPR WAS BETWEEN 1.24 AND 1.26 WITH PARKING BRAKE ON AND WITHOUT GROUND CHOCKS.

THE ALTERNATE BRAKE PRESSURE WAS NORMAL. (WITH PARKING BRAKE ON, BRAKE PRESSURE IS SUPPLIED BY ALTERNATE).

13 SECONDS BEFORE THE IMPACT THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO MOVE. WITHIN 1 OR 2 SECONDS THE CREW APPLIED BRAKE PEDAL INPUTS AND SELECTED PARKING BRAKE OFF. THESE ACTIONS LED THE NORMAL BRAKE PRESSURE TO INCREASE TO ITS NORMAL VALUE.

2 SECONDS PRIOR BEFORE THE IMPACT, ALL 4 ENGINE THRUST LEVERS WERE SELECTED TO IDLE.

THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE CONTAINMENT WALL AT A GROUND SPEED OF 30 KTS.

THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY AIRCRAFT SYSTEM OR ENGINE MALFUNCTION.

AIRBUS REMINDS ALL OPERATORS TO STRICTLY ADHERE TO AMM PROCEDURES WHEN PERFORMING ENGINE GROUND RUNS

ENGINE GROUND RUNS AT HIGH POWER ARE NORMALLY CONDUCTED ON A SINGLE ENGINE WITH THE ENGINE IN THE SAME POSITION ON THE OPPOSITE WING OPERATED AT A LIMITED THRUST SETTING TO AVOID DAMAGE TO THE AIFRAME

WHEEL CHOCKS ARE TO BE INSTALLED THROUGHOUT THE TEST.

YANNICK MALINGE

VICE PRESIDENT FLIGHT SAFETY

AIRBUS "...