IAC CONCLUDES THAT PLANE CREW AND PILOTS WERE GUILTY FOR MAY 3 CRASH OF A-320 AIRBUS
AZG Armenian Daily #141, 28/07/2006
A-320 Air Crash
As a result of the investigation of the causes for the A-320
"Armavia" liner May 3 crash, it became clear that the airplane,
which was carrying out an automatic process of landing, was on the
exact landing line when, by the air controller instruction, caused
by the meteorological conditions, the plane crew stopped landing
and started the right turn with climb at the height of about 340
m. This is said in the official conclusion of the Intergovernmental
Aviation Committee. According to the conclusion, the pilot-in-command
switched off the autopilot system during the right turn and, after
a short period of climb under conditions of horizontal position loss
by the airplane, he put the liner in a landing position again. Under
conditions of such inadequate actions of the captain, there could
be no proper control by the second pilot taking into account the
landing parameters: steering incline, height, speed. Further actions
of the crew were dictated by signals of the warning system about the
threat of approaching the land, they were not coordinated and not
aimed at the airplane withdrawal from the landing regime. According
to IAC, no wrecks were fixed in the airplane engines and systems,
it was responding to both the autopilot commands and to the crew
instructions and the quantity of aviation fuel was quite enough for
successful completion of the flight.
According to IAC, the crash happened May 3 at 2:13 AM by Moscow time.
The investigation was carried out in compliance with the rules of
the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the Interstate
Agreement, signed between the 12 states, including Armenia and Russia.
During investigation, all the documents concerning the airplane,
the screw and the airplane-maintaining services, underwent study. The
Commission has also prepared recommendations for prevention of such
air-crashes in the future, it is noted in the conclusion. It’s worth
mentioning that Mikhail Baghdasarov, the owner of "Armavia" company,
stated in the interview to "Liberty" Radio Station that he disagrees
with the conclusion of IAC and is going to appeal against that as soon
as he returns to Armenia. He is currently at a hospital in Germany.
By Marietta Khachatrian