The A320 has three totally independent hydraulic systems. A leak in one can no more affect another than a leak in one airliner can affect another airliner parked at the next gate. But they were there and I wasn’t. Could well be that they were “encouraged” to accept the plane with a related system inop. Being that it is Russia, we will never know.
UAL 232 was due to the fan spool from an uncontained engine failure slicing through all lines. By the time I flew the -10, a reroute had been implemented with a new device called a “232 valve” that would keep one system partially serviceable in that scenario. Newer aircraft designs took the lesson from Douglas. They separated their hydraulic systems and placed standpipes in the reservoirs to keep some fluid useable for limited systems after a leak.
This is what I’m thinking could be the possibility. Maybe a Hyd pump U/S in one system and then they lost quantity in another system…
Especially since they don’t get new parts, anything could’ve happened.
Something made them want to land on that field…
According to this video, it seems like that Russian Airbus had a hyd issue and wanted to divert, presumably to their tech. base, and ran out of fuel, or almost did.
I’m wondering why they didn’t divert to an airfield with a lot more runway. The end outcome is probably the same (writing off the aircraft)…but I wonder if they would have slid to a stop on pavement instead of in the dirt if they had bellied in at a 10,000’ runway instead of the 7,400’ runway at Chattanooga. Knoxville, ATL, Huntsville (12,600’ runway) all were within 100 miles or so…fuel probably not being a factor. I mean…like I said…end result is probably the same…but sliding through airport hardware like antennas or lights and stuff off piste probably elevates the chances of rupturing a fuel tank or other stuff. Just wondering if there was a pressing need to land at CHA… (other than the old aviation joke of - “that’s where my car is parked…”)
I never thought they’d slide down the whole runway like that, but they did. Was it flaps up too?
Anyway, no aircraft is tested for its gear up landing distance, so you become a test pilot when that time comes.
Unfortunately not… I’m in the middle of a major revamp of my astronomy setup which is costing me an arm and a leg. Hopefully the images I get will be worth it.
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