AI Plane Incident: Uncommanded Deployment of RAT Before Landing at Birmingham Airport Raises Safety Concerns

An Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner experienced an unexpected deployment of its Ram Air Turbine (RAT) shortly before landing at Birmingham airport. This incident, which occurred on October 4 during flight AI117 from Amritsar, is under investigation by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The aircraft landed safely, and no abnormalities were reported by the pilot.

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The RAT is designed to deploy automatically in cases of dual engine failure or other critical system failures. It generates emergency power using wind speed. The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has expressed concerns over this incident, urging the DGCA to conduct thorough checks on all Boeing 787 aircraft in India. The FIP highlighted the need for a detailed examination of the electrical systems.

Safety Concerns and Historical Context

This event has revived safety concerns linked to a previous Air India Dreamliner crash on June 12, which resulted in 260 fatalities. Reports suggested that the RAT might have deployed before that crash, which occurred shortly after take-off. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is examining potential causes, including engine or hydraulic/electrical failures and possible pilot error.

In response to the recent incident, an Air India spokesperson confirmed that the RAT was detected during the final approach to Birmingham. Despite this, all electrical and hydraulic parameters were normal, allowing for a safe landing. However, specific details such as the number of passengers onboard were not disclosed.

Investigation and Maintenance Actions

A senior DGCA official stated that the RAT deployed at 400 feet during landing but no related issues were reported by the pilot. Boeing's recommended maintenance actions for uncommanded RAT deployment have been completed without finding any discrepancies. The DGCA plans a detailed investigation into this occurrence.

The FIP's letter to the DGCA mentioned that the Aircraft Health Monitoring system identified a fault in the Bus Power Control Unit (BPCU), potentially causing the automatic RAT deployment. The BPCU is responsible for managing an aircraft's electrical power system.

Ongoing Investigations and Fleet Details

The FIP has consistently advocated for comprehensive checks of Boeing 787 aircraft's electrical systems following the Air India 171 crash. After that crash, only fuel control switches were inspected by the DGCA within Air India's fleet. Currently, Air India operates 33 Boeing 787s, while IndiGo also leases some of these aircraft.

The AAIB's preliminary report on the June crash revealed that engine fuel control switches were cut off seconds after lift-off. A conversation between pilots indicated confusion over who initiated this action. This highlights ongoing concerns about potential system malfunctions or human errors contributing to such incidents.

The FIP insists that thorough investigations into these electrical systems are crucial for ensuring air safety. As investigations continue, both past and present incidents underscore the importance of addressing potential vulnerabilities in Boeing 787 aircraft operations.

With inputs from PTI