Lauda Air Flight NG004 (Hong Kong - Bangkok - Vienna) took off from
Bangkok at around 23:10h for it's 1132nd flight (and 7429th flying hour).
Twelve minutes after take-off, the crew got a visual REV ISLN advisory
warning. It indicated that 'an additional system failure might cause
in-flight deployment ...' of the No.1 engine (Pratt & Whitney PW4060)
thrust reverser. The crew didn't take immediate action, since the 767
Emergency/Malfunction Checklist said 'No action required'. Nine minutes
later, shortly before reaching FL310, the No.1 thrust reverser deployed.
The Boeing (named 'Mozart') stalled and crashed out of control. The
aircraft disintegrated at 2000m; the fuselage crashed in the jungle
at a 45 angle and exploded. One of the aircraft's wings was found 19km
and the cockpit 1,5km from the main crash site.
23.21:21 - [Warning light indicated]
23.21:21 FO: Shit.
23.21:24 CA: That keeps, that's come on.
23.22:28 FO: So we passed transition altitude one-zero-one-three
23.22:30 CA: OK.
23.23:57 CA: What's it say in there about that, just ah...
23.24:00 FO: (reading from quick reference handbook) Additional system
failures may cause in-flight deployment. Expect normal reverse operation
after landing.
23.24:11 CA: OK.
23.24:12 CA: Just, ah, let's see.
23.24:36 CA: OK.
23.25:19 FO: Shall I ask the ground staff?
23.25:22 CA: What's that?
23.25:23 FO: Shall I ask the technical men?
23.25:26 CA: Ah, you can tell 'em it, just it's, it's, it's, just
ah, no, ah, it's probably ah wa... ah moisture or something 'cause it's
not just, oh, it's coming on and off.
23.25:39 FO: Yeah.
23.25:40 CA: But, ah, you know it's a ... it doesn't really, it's
just an advisory thing, I don't ah ...
23.25:55 CA: Could be some moisture in there or somethin'.
23.26:03 FO: Think you need a little bit of rudder trim to the left.
23.26:06 CA: What's that?
23.26:08 FO: You need a little bit of rudder trim to the left.
23.26:10 CA: OK.
23.26:12 CA: OK.
23.26:50 FO: (starts adding up figures in German)
23.30:09 FO: (stops adding figures)
23.30:37 FO: Ah, reverser's deployed.
23.30:39 - [sound of snap]
23.30:41 CA: Jesus Christ!
23.30:44 - [sound of four caution tones]
23.30:47 - [sound of siren warning starts]
23.30:48 - [sound of siren warning stops]
23.30:52 - [sound of siren warning starts and continues until the
recording ends]
23.30:53 CA: Here, wait a minute!
23.30:58 CA: Damn it!
23.31:05 - [sound of bang]
[End of Recording]
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