FILE - In this May 9, 2015 file photo, emergency services
personnel work at the scene of a plane crash near Seville airport, Seville,
Spain. Airbus Defense and Space said In a statement Wednesday June 3, 2015 that
three of the four engines on an A400M military plane failed before it crashed
near Seville, Spain last month, killing four people. The crash on May 9 killed
two pilots and two flight test engineers. The crash remains under
investigation. (AP Photo/Miguel Angel Morenatti, File)
JUNE 3, 2015
PARIS, FRANCE (AP)
Airbus said Wednesday that three of the four engines on an
A400M military plane failed before it crashed near Seville, Spain last month,
killing four people.
In a statement, Airbus Defense and Space says the faulty
engines were confirmed by Spanish accident investigators after completing their
preliminary analysis of the aircraft's digital flight data and cockpit voice
recorders.
The crash May 9 killed two pilots and two flight test
engineers. The crash remains under investigation.
Three of the hulking gray aircraft's four turboprop engines
suffered what it called "power frozen" after lift-off, and failed to
respond to the crew's efforts to regain control. A fourth engine responded
normally. No other problems have been identified by the preliminary analysis.
Airbus says the A400M's eight-bladed turboprop engines are
the most powerful in production. They are built by a consortium made up of
Rolls Royce, Snecma, MTU and ITP.
The A400M can carry 116 fully equipped paratroopers or carry
up to 37 tons of cargo, including armored vehicles and helicopters.
Last month Airbus sent a so-called Alert Operator
Transmission notice to all operators of the giant airlifter, warning them of
the need to perform checks of its Electronic Control Units before they are next
flown.
Airbus said investigators' latest analysis is consistent
with that AOT and doesn't call for any further recommendations.
Four of the five countries that already have A400Ms —
Britain, Germany, Malaysia and Turkey — grounded the plane after the crash.
France, which has six, says it will only use the aircraft in urgent operations.
The 20 billion euro A400M program saw its first deliveries
in 2013. Some 174 aircraft have been ordered by eight countries — including
Spain — to replace their aging military transport fleets. Twelve of the
aircraft were delivered as of March, with Malaysia's air force being the most
recent customer. A further five aircraft were due to be delivered to Germany
this year, but Airbus has notified the German government to expect delays.
Source: http://www.usnews.com
and associated press.com