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| Title: | Multiple system failures, Airbus A340-642, G-VATL |
| Micro summary: | FMC failures, engine failure, and a possible fuel leak affected this Airbus A340 flight and ended up in the declaration of a Mayday. |
| Event Time: | 2005-02-08 at 0330 UTC |
| File Name: | 2005-02-08-UK.pdf |
| Publishing Agency: | Aircraft Accident Investigation Board (AAIB) |
| Publishing Country: | United Kingdom |
| Report number: | EW/C2005/02/03 |
| Pages: | 12 |
| Site of event: | Cruise |
| Departure: | Hong Kong International Airport (Check Lap Kok Airport), Hong Kong, China |
| Destination: | Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Airplane Type(s): | Airbus A340-642 |
| Flight Phase: | Cruise |
| Registration(s): | G-VATL |
| Operator(s): | Virgin Atlantic |
| Type of flight: | Revenue |
| Occupants: | 311 |
| Fatalities: | 0 |
| Serious Injuries: | 0 |
| Minor/Non-Injured: | 311 |
| Other Injuries: | 0 |
| Executive Summary: | The flight was scheduled to depart Hong Kong at 1535 hrs (2335 local) on 7 February with a scheduled arrival time at London Heathrow of 0450 hrs the next day. There was one relevant entry in the technical log prior to departure, both Fuel Control Monitoring Computers (FCMCs) had been reset at separate times on the previous sector. During the pre-flight preparation period for this flight there was one FCMC 2 and one FCMC 1 failure, the crew were able to carry out successful resets on each occasion. The aircraft took off from Hong Kong at 1621 hrs. Shortly after takeoff there was an Electronic Centralised Aircraft Monitor (ECAM) alert advisory 'FCMC2 FAULT' displayed. There were no ECAM actions associated with this fault and the commander decided to delay any attempt at a computer reset until the aircraft had reached its cruising level. When the aircraft reached its initial cruise altitude the crew attempted an FCMC2 reset using the computer reset procedure in the Quick Reference Handbook (QRH). The reset attempt was unsuccessful. There were no further fuel system warnings, cautions or messages throughout the remainder of the flight. The aircraft was cruising at Flight Level (FL) 380 in Dutch airspace when at 0330 hrs No 1 engine lost power. The flight crew secured the engine and the commander decided not to attempt to relight it but to continue towards Heathrow on three engines. The flight crew noticed that the fuel contents for the inner 1 fuel tank, which feeds engine No 1, was reading zero. Suspecting a possible fuel leak, a flight crew member was sent aft to inspect the engine area from the passenger cabin but nothing unusual was seen. However, soon afterwards, the crew observed the No 4 engine power fluctuate and noticed that the inner 4 fuel tank was also indicating zero fuel contents. The commander opened all the fuel crossfeed valves and the No 4 engine recovered. A 'MAYDAY' was declared and a diversion to Amsterdam Schipol Airport was initiated. When the diversion commenced the total fuel on board was in excess of 25,000 kg but there were significant quantities of fuel located in the trim, centre and outer wing fuel tanks. Manual fuel transfer was started by the flight crew but they did not see immediately the expected indications of fuel transfer on the ECAM. Consequently, the flight crew remained uncertain of the exact fuel status. The diversion to Amsterdam continued and the aircraft landed there without further technical problems. |
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