AZAL Plane Crash: Transport Ministry Releases Preliminary Investigation Report

Kazakhstan's Transport Ministry has released the preliminary investigation of the AZAL plane crash, Orda reports.

The following is not the entire report, the translation is more direct to avoid confusion, details may be added later:

Systems recorded two external impacts on the Embraer-190 aircraft: 

At 05:13:31, according to CVR (Cockpit Voice Recorder) recordings, a sound impact was recorded, autopilot disconnection alarm triggered (PI "AUTO PILOT,") and autothrottle (PI "Throttle"). 

According to the CVR, the captain announced the warning on the EICAS screen: "DOOR...SERVICE DOOR AFT OPEN."

At 05:13:39, according to the FDR (Flight Data Recorder), cabin depressurization began. 

The second impact occurred at 05:13:56.

At 05:14:58, according to the CVR, the commander contacted the cabin crew via intercom to clarify the situation: 

'Hello, what happened?' Flight attendant reported: 'Two seats exploded, I... mmm I can't approach because passengers stood up, I'm reseating them,' the report states

The report indicates that the Embraer-190 crew first reported bird strikes:

05:15:57 Crew: "Grozny, control lost, bird strike in cabin. Uh, bird strike and two seats exploded in cabin." 

05:16:08 Grozny Tower: "Azerbaijan eighty-two forty-three understood, uh what assistance do you need?"

05:16:14 Crew: "Uuh, we need, we need, that is, nearest airfield where weather is normal we'll go land (intracockpit communications)." 

05:16:32 Crew: "How's weather in Mineralnye Vody? Please assist." 

05:16:36 Grozny Tower: "Azerbaijan eighty-two forty-three, at 16th minute."

After the aircraft headed towards Mineralnye Vody, the EICAS "CABIN ALT HIGH" warning activated.

This warning repeated eight times.

According to the report, the investigation discovered multiple punctures in the tail section, stabilizer, left engine, wing, and hydraulic compartment. 

Damages were through-and-through, with some areas showing irregular or rectangular shapes.

Specialists retrieved metal objects from blind damages in the fuselage. 

Preliminary analysis indicates possible external impact on aircraft, leading to the destruction of critical systems, including pitch control and hydraulics.

However, conclusions will be made after the investigation is completed. 

Investigation Commission, in the presence of Authorized Representatives from the Federal Republic of Brazil, the Republic of Azerbaijan, and law enforcement agencies of the Republic of Kazakhstan, conducted actions to extract foreign objects that could remain in blind damages for additional forensic examination. As result, large number of foreign objects were extracted from blind damages, the report satest.

The report seems to suggest experts found no evidence of bird strikes.

Appropriate studies and examinations will be conducted to determine the nature and origin of damages caused by foreign objects.

Around 5:20 AM, the Embraer-190 crew reported hydraulics failure and increased cabin pressure.

Afterward, they reported heading toward Makhachkala.

05:23:11 Crew: "We cannot perform, give specific heading, we'll go to Makhachkala." 

05:23:34 Grozny Tower: "Azerbaijan eighty-two forty-three, uh, Makhachkala weather: wind three hundred ten degrees, two meters per second, visibility three thousand three hundred meters, ceiling seven hundred fifty meters, haze."

05:24:17 Grozny Tower: "Azerbaijan eighty-two forty-three, confirm, declared emergency?." 

Four minutes later, the crew reported returning to Baku and requested Baku weather.

Eleven minutes after the crew reported heading to Baku, pilots radioed again, requesting Aqtau's weather.

05:52:39 Crew: "So, our situation is, oxygen running out in passenger cabin, means oxygen tank exploded there, I think, uhh, means fuel smell coming, some passengers means losing consciousness, allow us to go at lower altitude."

• At 06:02:47, the aircraft crew contacted Aqtau Airport control. 
• At 06:03:06, Aqtau airport responded, object identified, and approved landing.
• At 06:19:13, according to FDR, TERRAIN TERRAIN PULL UP warning was activated.
• At 06:22:20, crew began deploying mechanization to position one (FLAPS 1).
• At 06:22:24, crew began landing gear deployment.
• At 06:22:40, crew began deploying mechanization to position two (FLAPS 2).
• At 06:23:30, crew began deploying mechanization to position three (FLAPS 3).
• At 06:24:52, according to FDR, TERRAIN TERRAIN PULL UP warning activated.
• At 06:25:25, TERRAIN TERRAIN PULL UP warning activated.
• At 06:27:58, aircraft impact with ground recorded at 35 degrees right bank angle, pitch "-5.8" degrees.

At 05:13:30, according to the Flight Data Recorder (FDR), the aircraft was climbing, crossing 3500 feet above sea level by QNH (atmospheric pressure reduced to mean sea level) of Grozny airport.

Per the report, FDR data showed aircraft in autopilot control mode, engines, and hydraulics normal. The only issue was that GPS 1 and GPS 2 did not receive satellite signals.

No other system failures were registered, according to FDR data.

At 05:13:31 according to CVR recordings, sound impact recorded, autopilot disconnection alarm triggered (PI AUTO PILOT), autothrottle (PI Throttle),the report states.

Three seconds later, pressure in the third hydraulic system dropped to zero, the fluid level also decreased to 0%.

Control surfaces position (ELEVATOR, AILERON, RUDDER) recorded at zero position and remained in this position until end of flight. At 05:13:36 aircraft pitch trim system failure recorded (AP PITCH TRIM NOT ENGAGED, MACH TRIM NOT CAPABLE). According to CVR, aircraft commander announced warning on EICAS screen: 'DOOR...SERVICE DOOR AFT OPEN'. At 05:13:39 according to FDR, cabin depressurization began,  the report says.

The central fire zone during the crash was concentrated in the center wing section, left and right wings, nose, and central parts of the fuselage.

After completing the field investigation phase, the commission arranged the transport of fragments to a specially designated and secured hangar for further work.

The investigation report of the Embraer-190 crash also indicates that a "Carpet (Kovyor)" plan was declared in Grozny on December 25.

This was revealed in communications with the interaction controller of the Regional Center of the Unified Air Traffic Management System (Rostov-on-Don):

Unknown: Good morning.

IC (Interaction Controller  - Ed.): Due to Grozny weather conditions, AHY8243 is diverting to alternate Baku (is it leaving us?) departing from approach. 

Unknown: 8243, good.

IC: Mh, just this routing.

IC: Mh, Vladikavkaz IC.

Vladikavkaz: Yes, listening. 

IC: At 15 minutes Grozny "Carpet" radius 50.

Vladikavkaz: Grozny "Carpet" radius 50 received. 

Unknown: Rostov (unintelligible).

IC: 15 minutes Grozny "Carpet" radius 50.

Unknown: 15 minutes Grozny "Carpet" radius 50.

Nalchik: Nalchik - approach.

IC: Grozny 15 minutes "Carpet" radius 50.

Nalchik: Understood, Grozny "Carpet" radius 50, who's calling?

IC: At 15 minutes IC Rostov.

Nalchik: Understood, thank you.

IC: Yes. Unknown: Yes, what did you want, SD?

IC: Grozny 15 minutes radius 50 "Carpet."

Unknown: Yes, yes. We already know, proceeding as established.

IC: Anything else?

Unknown: No, nothing just this... 

IC: No, no, I'm asking our SD.

Unknown: Aah.

IC: He will call you.

Unknown: Okay.

IC: Yes. 

Unknown: Grozny, yes, there is information.

IC: Yes, "Carpet" on screen, already there.

Unknown: Mhm.

IC: Makhachkala - IC. 

Makhachkala: Responding.

IC: Grozny "Carpet" in 15 minutes radius 50.

Makhachkala: Grozny "Carpet" in 15 minutes.

 IC: Yes, received.

Makhachkala: Rostov (unintelligible).

 IC: You have information about AHY8243, yes? To you as alternate due to Grozny weather conditions and closure.

Makhachkala: Yes, yes. Received, technically capable to accept, will provide as alternate.

IC: Embraer... Good. 05:21:42

Grozny: Grozny receiving.

IC: At 15 minutes "Carpet" at your location radius 50 and for information AHY8243 diverting to Mineralnye Vody as alternate.

Grozny: SIU decided on Makhachkala, they had a bird strike, they have a very unstable situation on board. 

IC: To Makhachkala? Good, received. To Makhachkala there was a colli...

Makhachkala: Responding.

IC: So, document, AHY8243 Embraer 190 is heading to you as alternate due to closure and weather conditions at Grozny. Additional information - they had a bird strike during approach, in general, special attention required.

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