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British Investigators Point to Transmitter Battery in 787 Fire British Investigators Point to Transmitter Battery in 787 Fire
(about 1 hour later)
The Federal Aviation Administration on Thursday said it would review recommendations by British authorities to disconnect the batteries in the emergency locator transmitters on all Boeing 787s and evaluate the safety of similar devices in thousands of other passenger jets.The Federal Aviation Administration on Thursday said it would review recommendations by British authorities to disconnect the batteries in the emergency locator transmitters on all Boeing 787s and evaluate the safety of similar devices in thousands of other passenger jets.
British investigators made the recommendations Thursday after they found signs of disruption in the battery cells of an emergency transmitter on a 787 Dreamliner that caught fire while parked at Heathrow Airport last Friday. British investigators made the recommendations earlier Thursday after they found signs of disruption in the battery cells of an emergency transmitter on a 787 Dreamliner that caught fire while parked at Heathrow Airport last Friday.
Britain’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch recommended that the batteries be disabled on all 68 of the Dreamliners delivered so far and urged the F.A.A. to conduct the broader safety review.Britain’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch recommended that the batteries be disabled on all 68 of the Dreamliners delivered so far and urged the F.A.A. to conduct the broader safety review.
Most passenger jets do not have fire suppressant systems in the area where the devices, which send out a plane’s location after a crash, are situated. And if a fire occurred in flight, the investigators said, “it could pose a significant safety concern and raise challenges for the cabin crew.” Most passenger jets do not have fire suppressant systems in the area where the devices, which send out a plane’s location after a crash, are situated. And if a fire occurred in flight, the British investigators said, “it could pose a significant safety concern and raise challenges for the cabin crew.”
The recommendations, contained in a three-page interim report on the fire investigation, provided the strongest evidence yet that the emergency locator transmitter played a significant role in the fire on the Ethiopian Airlines 787. Boeing immediately supported the British recommendations as “reasonable precautionary measures to take as the investigation proceeds.” Honeywell Aerospace, which makes the 6.6-pound transmitters on the 787, said the proposals were “prudent,” though it said it remained “premature to jump to conclusions” about the cause of the fire.
But the F.A.A. decided it needed more time to evaluate the proposals, which could conceivably lead to the removal of the batteries or the transmitters from most of the planes made by Boeing, Airbus and the smaller companies that make regional and business jets.
Federal officials said the lack of definitive evidence about the cause of the fire — and the fact that none of the transmitters had been known to cause a fire in more than 50 million flight hours — suggested they should take more time in reviewing the matter.
The British recommendations, contained in a three-page interim report on the fire investigation, provided the strongest evidence yet that the emergency locator transmitter played a significant role in the fire on the Ethiopian Airlines 787.
The findings were good news for Boeing, which was relieved that that the fire centered on a generic piece of equipment that is on many types of planes rather than one of the new systems on the Dreamliner, an innovative plane that is crucial to the future of the company.The findings were good news for Boeing, which was relieved that that the fire centered on a generic piece of equipment that is on many types of planes rather than one of the new systems on the Dreamliner, an innovative plane that is crucial to the future of the company.
Boeing said in a statement that it supported the British recommendations as “reasonable precautionary measures to take as the investigation proceeds.”
The report, written by the air accidents branch, said the most extensive heat damage to the jet’s carbon-composite skin occurred at the spot where the transmitter was attached to the top of the plane near the rear left door. The report said it was not clear if the fire was initiated by a release of energy within the batteries or by an external mechanism like an electrical short.The report, written by the air accidents branch, said the most extensive heat damage to the jet’s carbon-composite skin occurred at the spot where the transmitter was attached to the top of the plane near the rear left door. The report said it was not clear if the fire was initiated by a release of energy within the batteries or by an external mechanism like an electrical short.
If a short occurred in the device or its wiring, the battery could have provided the energy for ignition, the report said.If a short occurred in the device or its wiring, the battery could have provided the energy for ignition, the report said.
The report said no other systems in that area would have contained enough stored energy to start a fire with the plane’s basic power system turned off. The transmitter, which could broadcast distress signals for many hours after a crash, is designed to operate independently of the jet’s power system.The report said no other systems in that area would have contained enough stored energy to start a fire with the plane’s basic power system turned off. The transmitter, which could broadcast distress signals for many hours after a crash, is designed to operate independently of the jet’s power system.
Still, the investigators expressed surprise that the battery could have caught fire, noting that the manufacturer of the transmitter, Honeywell Aerospace, had produced 6,000 of the transmitters for a wide range of aircraft since 2005, including some Airbus planes, without similar incidents. Honeywell and other manufacturers also make similar devices for thousands of other commercial and business jets.Still, the investigators expressed surprise that the battery could have caught fire, noting that the manufacturer of the transmitter, Honeywell Aerospace, had produced 6,000 of the transmitters for a wide range of aircraft since 2005, including some Airbus planes, without similar incidents. Honeywell and other manufacturers also make similar devices for thousands of other commercial and business jets.
Industry officials said it might be easier for airlines to temporarily remove the transmitters than to extract the batteries.Industry officials said it might be easier for airlines to temporarily remove the transmitters than to extract the batteries.
Honeywell said that the British recommendations to reduce the risk posed by the devices was “prudent” and that it would help Boeing and the airlines as needed. It also said in a statement that it did not anticipate any material impact on its finances.
But Honeywell also said that with the investigation still under way, it remained “premature to jump to conclusions” about the cause of the fire.
The report indicated that the plane had landed at Heathrow 10 hours before the fire. After the passengers departed, the plane was towed to a remote parking spot and connected to a ground power station. The power source was turned off shortly afterward.The report indicated that the plane had landed at Heathrow 10 hours before the fire. After the passengers departed, the plane was towed to a remote parking spot and connected to a ground power station. The power source was turned off shortly afterward.
The fire was detected by an employee in the air traffic tower, who noticed smoke coming from the plane. The report said firefighters encountered thick smoke when they entered the middle of the plane, and it became more dense as they moved toward the rear.The fire was detected by an employee in the air traffic tower, who noticed smoke coming from the plane. The report said firefighters encountered thick smoke when they entered the middle of the plane, and it became more dense as they moved toward the rear.
Investigators said a hand-held extinguisher did not stop the fire, and the firefighters had to knock down a ceiling panel to get to an upper compartment where the transmitter hung from the inside of the plane’s crown. While the firefighters were then able to put out the blaze with water from hoses, the fire was intense enough that it damaged the plane’s carbon-composite structure in that area and caused the exterior paint to blister and peel.Investigators said a hand-held extinguisher did not stop the fire, and the firefighters had to knock down a ceiling panel to get to an upper compartment where the transmitter hung from the inside of the plane’s crown. While the firefighters were then able to put out the blaze with water from hoses, the fire was intense enough that it damaged the plane’s carbon-composite structure in that area and caused the exterior paint to blister and peel.
The high-impact plastic composites are used in about half the structure of the 787 instead of aluminum or other metals. The composites are one of the novel features that helps reduce weight and increase fuel efficiency on the 787.The high-impact plastic composites are used in about half the structure of the 787 instead of aluminum or other metals. The composites are one of the novel features that helps reduce weight and increase fuel efficiency on the 787.
The plane also has new electric and battery systems, which prompted problems in the early stages of the 787’s service. Still, airlines, attracted by fuel savings of 20 percent, continue to place orders for the aircraft, and Boeing expects to sell thousands of the planes The plane also has new electric and battery systems, which prompted problems in the early stages of the 787’s service. Still, airlines, attracted by fuel savings of 20 percent, continue to place orders for the aircraft, and Boeing expects to eventually sell thousands of the planes
The transmitter is powered by a small lithium-manganese dioxide battery. It is not rechargeable and normally lasts for 10 years. It is similar to batteries used in fire alarms and military radios.The transmitter is powered by a small lithium-manganese dioxide battery. It is not rechargeable and normally lasts for 10 years. It is similar to batteries used in fire alarms and military radios.
The transmitter weighs only 6.6 pounds, and its battery is much smaller and less flammable than the lithium-cobalt batteries that caught fire or emitted smoke in other areas on two 787s in January. The transmitter’s battery is much smaller and less flammable than the lithium-cobalt batteries that caught fire or emitted smoke in other areas on two 787s in January.
The problems with those batteries led to a four-month grounding of the 787s around the world. British investigators have said those larger lithium cobalt batteries were nowhere near where the fire occurred on the Ethiopian jet and played no role in it.The problems with those batteries led to a four-month grounding of the 787s around the world. British investigators have said those larger lithium cobalt batteries were nowhere near where the fire occurred on the Ethiopian jet and played no role in it.