Ural Airlines is finalising the dismantling of an Airbus A320 (reg. RA-73805) which made a forced landing in a wheat field in the Novosibirsk region on the 12th of September 2023. This was announced by the airline’s press office.
The dismantling of the aircraft commenced following an assessment of its condition and the receipt of the necessary approval from the insurance company, which compensated a portion of the aircraft’s value. The airline plans to complete the dismantling no later than February of this year.
During the dismantling process, engineers removed the CFM56 engines with all associated accessories, engine cowling, and thrust reversers. The landing gear legs with their shock absorbers, struts and wheel bogies have also been removed.
Onboard electronic equipment has been removed, including control units, sensors, and avionics systems. These have been dispatched to Yekaterinburg for inspection and technical evaluation to determine their suitability for further use as part of the airline’s fleet maintenance programme.
“The dismantled structural elements and assemblies will undergo an expert evaluation, which will determine the possibility of further use of serviceable components and the need to scrap parts not suitable for installation on the active A320 fleet,” a company representative stated.
The fuselage, wing consoles and tail unit of the aircraft have been deemed unsuitable for further use due to damage sustained during the landing on the unpaved surface. It is planned to scrap these components in accordance with the current environmental regulations. Cabin interior components, including passenger seats, lighting fixtures, and trim elements were removed during the initial phase of work.
The emergency landing of the aircraft, which was en route from Sochi to Omsk, was caused by a failure in one of the hydraulic systems. This led to difficulties in extending and retracting the landing gear, and an increase in fuel consumption that was not correctly assessed by the crew.
The investigation into the circumstances of the aviation incident revealed the pilots did not meet the required standards of civil aviation. The commission uncovered inconsistencies in the information provided by the pilots regarding their actions during the flight and preparation for the emergency landing.