KNKT Issues Two Recommendations for Lion Air

KOMPAS/RADITYA HELABUMI

The National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) submits a preliminary report regarding the results of an investigation into crash of Lion Air flight JT610 into waters off Karawang, West Java, in late October at the KNKT Office, Jakarta, on Wednesday (28/11/2018). Information taken from the flight data recorder (FDR) shows that the aircraft\'s nose had dropped automatically several times before the plane crashed. KNKT is also still investigating damage to the angle of attack sensor (AoA), which functions to detect the angle of the nose of the aircraft while flying.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) on Wednesday issued two recommendations for Lion Air, based on the preliminary results of its investigation into the crash of Lion Air flight JT610 into waters off Karawang, West Java, on Oct. 29, 2018.

In its first recommendation, the KNKT urged Lion Air to guarantee the implementation of the Operation Manual Part A Subchapter 1.4.2 to improve its safety culture and ensure that pilots had the final say in determining aircrafts’ flightworthiness. Secondly, Lion Air was urged to guarantee that all operational documents are properly filled out and documented.

The KNKT said that investigation into Lion Air JT610’s flight data recorder (FDR) found that the aircraft had flown 385 times, with malfunctions reported on six of them. “Of the six malfunctions, four occurred in consecutive flights. Repairs had been done and the aircraft was later deemed fit to fly,” KNKT flight subcommittee head Nurcahyo Utomo told a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday (28/11/2018).

On Oct. 28, one day before the plane crashed, it was flown from Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport to Jakarta\'s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. In a pre-flight check, the pilot discussed aircraft maintenance with local technicians, including the latest information on replacing the pre-tested angle-of-attack (AOA) sensor.

On the Bali-Jakarta flight, the aircraft experienced what is called a trimming aircraft nose down (AND), in which the aircraft’s autopilot system automatically turned its nose downwards several times mid-flight. “The pilot then decided to turn off the autopilot and flew the airplane manually. The pilot gave a declaration of ‘pan-pan’ to air traffic controllers due to malfunctioning instrument,” Nurcahyo said.

After flying for 1 hour and 36 minutes, the plane arrived in Jakarta and the pilot reported the problem to local technicians. The report was followed up with a repair and ground operational testing. However, the problem reoccurred in the aircraft’s final flight from Jakarta to Pangkalpinang, Bangka Belitung Islands, on Oct. 29.

“Before flying from Jakarta to Pangkapinang, the pilot did not meet with the technician. The pilot merely read the technician’s report in the maintenance book. Such a practice is allowed. Pilots have no obligation to meet face-to-face with technicians,” Nurcahyo explained.

Clarification

In response to the findings, Lion Air Group CEO and president Edward Sirait said that his office would send a letter to the KNKT to clarify several things. He said that, in Bali, the aircraft had been repaired and declared fit to fly by local technicians.

Lion Air Group managing director Daniel Putut Kuncoro Adi said that AOA sensor and indicator replacements were included in the repairs.

“The pilot had confirmed that there was no problem. This is enough to prove that the aircraft was fit to fly,” Daniel said.

Transportation Ministry Budi Karya Sumadi said that investigators from the KNKT and the ministry’s Air Transportation Directorate General were flying to Seattle in the United States to give and discuss its findings with the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and aircraft manufacturer Boeing Company. It is hoped that there would be further analyses and recommendations. “As the process is still ongoing, we have no recommendations to give to Lion Air, Boeing or other related parties,” Budi said.

Aviation observer Alvin Lie said that the malfunctions on the four consecutive flights showed that there were problems in the airplane’s system. “I think that the KNKT should give recommendations not only to pilots but also to technicians and Boeing,” he said.

In a statement released on the company website on Tuesday, the Boeing Company said that it appreciated KNKT for its air crash investigation and that it remained committed to ensuring the safety of aircraft, passengers and flight crew.

(ARN/E18/E19)