The human aspect in the tragedy (cannot) be “disregarded,” according to an early investigation of the Yeti Airlines jet crash in Nepal last month, which resulted in the deaths of 71 passengers, including five Indians.
According to a report cited by the news agency PTI, a pilot may have unintentionally pulled ‘feathering’ levers before landing instead of utilising the flaps, which caused the engines to lose thrust and caused the plane to crash. Each feathering lever controls fuel supply and idle speed. The investigative team noticed that both engines of 9N-ANC were operating in flying idle condition during the incident flight to minimise over torque while both propellers were feathered, according to the preliminary report.
The propellers of both engines coming to a feathered position is unusual, according to the investigation, and data recorders found after the disaster showed that “all recorded parameters relating to engines did not reflect any aberration.” “The accident’s human component could hardly be discounted. Thus, it needs to be investigated “According to a PTI official.
The report also stated that one of the pilots had noticed the engines weren’t producing any power. According to the report, the Pilot Flying (PF) twice mentioned that there was no power flowing from the engines when the Air Traffic Controller (ATC) gave the clearance for landing at 10:57.07.
The flight crew had already completed two journeys between Kathmandu and Pokhara on the same day; this was the third, according to the report, which also mentioned weariness as a potential problem.
The preliminary assessment noted that visibility at the time of the disaster was 6 km, and the sky was “nearly clear with only a few clouds,” ruling out weather as a potential factor.
Anju Khatiwada, who was acquiring airfield familiarisation in preparation for operating in Pokhara, and Kamal KC, the instructor pilot on this training trip, were the two captains.
The investigation into the jet disaster is not yet complete.
On January 15, Yeti Airlines aircraft 691 took off from Kathmandu and crashed in the Seti River gorge between the old and new airports serving Pokhara, a tourist destination.
There were 72 persons on board, including the crew, but so far only 71 bodies have been discovered; the remaining passenger, who made up the remaining two, is assumed dead.
The Kathmandu Post said that Buddhi Sagar Lamichhane, joint secretary of Nepal’s tourist ministry, acknowledged the “problem of the flaps.” “It’s unclear why the pilots took so long to raise the flaps. There are numerous aspects to consider, “said he.