Ahmedabad: Mike Andrews, an aviation attorney with the Alabama-based Beasley Allen law firm, has written to the Federal Aviation Administration, seeking flight simulation data under the Freedom of Information Act in connection with the AI 171 crash case.
Andrews, who represents more than 130 clients in the case, said newly reviewed flight simulator data and videos raise questions about the purported timeline of ram air turbine (RAT) deployment and power generation in relation to changes in the aircraft's fuel system.
“The videos and preliminary data analysis appear to contradict key points in the timeline of VT-ANB RAT deployment and power generation contained within the Indian AAIB preliminary report. Specifically, the preliminary report, Page 14, states (based on VT-ANB FDR data) that fuel system interruption occurred at 08:08:42 UTC with hydraulic power produced by the RAT 4-5 seconds later. However, flight simulator testing indicates that RAT-generated power is not produced until around 18 seconds following fuel system interruption,” according to the letter.
The letter also claims that video evidence appears to show the RAT already deployed while the aircraft was still on the runway, shortly before rotation for take-off.
