RuAviation

According to the preliminary technical assessment of specialists, the Ural Airlines A320 aircraft (reg. RA-73805) that made an emergency landing in a wheat field near Novosibirsk is in good condition. The aircraft has no serious damage and is likely to be able to perform flights in the future. This is reported in the carrier’s TG channel.

During landing, a small amount of soil fell into one of the engines, several engine fan blades were slightly damaged, the front landing gear strut was deployed. The cause of the malfunction of one of the hydraulic systems was identified and eliminated. Specialists cleaned the flowing part of the engine from soil and straw and carried out a second inspection. Baroscopy examinations of the engines showed that the units will not require remedial repairs.

“When we finish assessing the condition of the power elements, we will replace the damaged engine fan elements in stages. The work programme is already in place, it includes assessment of the liner’s power elements: chassis attachment units, replacement of engine elements. We sent the equipment for checking the nodes and brackets by non-destructive testing method from Ekaterinburg,” the airline said.

Speech and parametric recorders were removed from the aircraft. Inflatable ladders were sent to Yekaterinburg to the aviation technical centre, after their maintenance they will be installed back on board. For stable position of the aircraft on the ground, wooden platforms were prepared and placed under the landing gear, on which the aircraft is currently installed.

Three engineers from the airline’s Aviation Technical Centre are working at the site and will stay there until the work is completed and the aircraft is mothballed. An in-depth examination of the aircraft structure is being carried out, additional diagnostic work will be carried out by two more specialists, the press service said.

The aircraft will remain in the field until the moment of transport. It may take several months to evacuate it, so it is necessary to carry out storage works on the aircraft. A fence has been installed around the aircraft. Now the aircraft is being supervised round the clock by a security company, for whose employees warm temporary shelters for six people have been brought.

“Several options are being considered to take the aircraft off the field. We are waiting for the delivery of hoists to race the landing gear, check the assemblies and conduct additional research into the aircraft’s structure. Removal of seats to lighten the airliner is also in the plan,” the airline said in a statement.