Results of Yak-40 crash investigation blames pilot error

Published: 5/11/2000

As a result of the crash of a Yak-40 belonging to Vologda Airlines in March killing nine people and leading to a great deal of speculation on what caused the crash; with theories ranging from terrorist action against the plane"s prominent passengers to inadequate de icing by the Vologda Airlines ground crew. Flight tests will take place to prove the preliminary findings of the investigation by the Interstate Aviation Committee"s (MAK) that the aircraft crashed due to icing and the incorrect position of the aircraft"s flaps. The MAK"s investigation also plans to inspect Yak-40s in service and according to Vladimir Kofman, in charge of the MAK"s investigation teams, will establish whether the practice of reducing the angle of flaps below recommended settings is widespread, potentially making the aircraft uncontrollable when the surface become covered with ice. The reason for the investigation is the view of MAK"s investigators, that pilots wishing to get their aircraft airborne quickly, have been using the flaps outside of the recommended ranges. The MAK investigation revealed that the position of the flaps on the crashed aircraft reduced take off power by 30% and when combined with ice, made the aircraft uncontrollable. The MAK's team further stated that even in icy conditions a Yak-40 could take off with normal flaps position and in ice-free conditions the small flap angle would not have resulted in problems. Kofman speculated, that the reason that an experienced pilot may have taken take off without thoroughly de icing may have been due to the fact that the departure was already late and there was a possibility that the plane may have lost its slot for the day if it was delayed any longer. This may have led, the pilot to making fatal errors relating to the de icing of the aircraft and flap positions, which led to the subsequent crash.

Article ID: 1759