The fuel control switch locking mechanism has been at the centre of the investigation into the June 12 Ahmedabad crash
MUMBAI: Checks carried out on the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner grounded in Bengaluru found its fuel control switch lock to be satisfactory, said the ministry of civil aviation on Tuesday, even as another AI Dreamliner was grounded over technical reasons, this time in Dubai.The latest grounding involved B787 (VT-ANN) scheduled to operate an 8.40pm departure from Dubai to Delhi, flight AIC 916, on Feb 2. The aircraft took off on Feb 3 at 5.30pm. It was grounded due to what has been described as a “technical reason”. It is not yet known whether the issue involves a fuel switch lock-related problem. Air India did not comment.
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The first grounding occurred on Feb 1 after a malfunction was registered by the crew of B787 (VT-ANX) during engine start to operate flight AI-132 from London to Bengaluru. The incident was critical as the fuel control switch locking mechanism has been at the centre of the investigation into the June 12 Air India Ahmedabad crash.Referring to the London incident, the ministry said the crew observed on two occasions that the left engine fuel control switch did not remain positively latched in the “RUN” position when light vertical pressure was applied. On a subsequent attempt, the switch latched correctly and remained stable and the crew went on to operate the flight in Bengaluru. In Bengaluru, during the check, “both left and right switches were checked and found satisfactory, with the locking tooth fully seated and not slipping from RUN to CUTOFF,” the ministry said. “When full force was applied parallel to the base plate, the switch remained secure. However, applying external force in an incorrect direction caused the switch to move easily from RUN to CUTOFF, due to the angular base plate allowing slip when pressed improperly with finger or thumb,” it added. AI as been advised to circulate Boeing’s recommended procedures for the operation of the fuel cut-off switch to its flight crew, it said.Air safety expert Capt Amit Singh pointed out that even if force is applied in the incorrect direction, the switch should not move unless it is lifted.The ministry statement also said based on Boeing’s communication, the pull-to-unlock force was checked on the fuel control switch using the recommended procedure on the involved fuel cut off switch, the fuel control unit to be installed and fuel cut off switch of another aircraft. In all cases the pull-to-unlock force was found within limits.
