TonH
20-12-05, 00:11
Reenactment of Helios Air Crash
Delayed Reaction
ERT, 19 Dec 2005 20:20:00
By Vagelis Theodorou
Important findings for clearing up the tragedy with the Helios aircraft, which crashed on August 14 at Grammatiko killing 121 persons, emerged from the reenactment of the flight. Among others, it was concluded that partial and not total decompression occurred in the aircraft, that the pilots had the capability of reacting and that flight attendant Andreas Prodromou flew the Boeing for ten minutes before its crash. The reenactment took place with the same type of Boeing 737 of Olympic Airways, which took off shortly after 11am from Larnaca, with a three-member crew and members of the Air Accidents and Flight Security Committee as passengers, the Prosecutor leading the investigations and a doctor on board.
Light Shed to Causes
As it emerged by the reenactment, the loss of compression in the cabin was partial and not total, a fact that supports the event that many of the passengers were conscious at the time of the crash.
Based on this fact and under normal circumstances, the pilots should not have lost consciousness and could intercept the ascending course of the aircraft, which worsened the situation.
Moreover, it was concluded that Andreas Prodromou took over the fatal Boeing above the island of Kea, ten minutes before the crash. This time period was enough to land the aircraft if he was aware of the procedures.
Prodromou entered the pilot’s cabin before the engines shut down, opening the door with its code, while he was conscious as he used one or quite possibly two oxygen tanks.
The first draft of the findings will be ready in the beginning of March and will be submitted to all involved for any observations. The final verdict is expected to be issued in June.
In the meantime, Cypriot Government spokesperson Kypros Chrystostomidis announced the appointment of a committee for the investigation of the tragedy within the week.
The Reenactment
The reenactment of the flight was made by an initiative of the Greek Investigative Committee, while Akrivos Tsolakis was also aboard the aircraft.
The OA Boeing 737-300 took off from Larnaca Airport at 11:07am with pilot Mr Zafeirakis and copilot Mr Granitsas. Ten persons in total were aboard the flight.
At 10,000 feet, as per statements by head of the Committee Serafeim Kamoutsis, the alarm sounded in the aircraft as partial decompression was observed. At 14,000 feet oxygen masks dropped, but for unknown reasons, the pilot continued the aircraft’s ascending course.
At 34,000 feet and while the aircraft was flying above Tzia, the descending course began, always on autopilot. As per the members of the Committee, Andreas Prodromou found a portable oxygen tank from the cabin, opened the cockpit, disconnected the autopilot and flew the aircraft for more than 10 minutes until it crashed in Grammatiko as it ran out of fuel.
An Air Force F-16 took part in the reenactment with pilot Lieutenant Panagiotis Stathopoulos, who was head of the two aircrafts’ formation approaching the Cypriot aircraft. The F-16 recorded today’s procedure.
At 12:30, the OA Boeing flew above Grammatiko at 2,000 feet, while an hour later landed on Eleftherios Venizelos Airport.
Delayed Reaction
ERT, 19 Dec 2005 20:20:00
By Vagelis Theodorou
Important findings for clearing up the tragedy with the Helios aircraft, which crashed on August 14 at Grammatiko killing 121 persons, emerged from the reenactment of the flight. Among others, it was concluded that partial and not total decompression occurred in the aircraft, that the pilots had the capability of reacting and that flight attendant Andreas Prodromou flew the Boeing for ten minutes before its crash. The reenactment took place with the same type of Boeing 737 of Olympic Airways, which took off shortly after 11am from Larnaca, with a three-member crew and members of the Air Accidents and Flight Security Committee as passengers, the Prosecutor leading the investigations and a doctor on board.
Light Shed to Causes
As it emerged by the reenactment, the loss of compression in the cabin was partial and not total, a fact that supports the event that many of the passengers were conscious at the time of the crash.
Based on this fact and under normal circumstances, the pilots should not have lost consciousness and could intercept the ascending course of the aircraft, which worsened the situation.
Moreover, it was concluded that Andreas Prodromou took over the fatal Boeing above the island of Kea, ten minutes before the crash. This time period was enough to land the aircraft if he was aware of the procedures.
Prodromou entered the pilot’s cabin before the engines shut down, opening the door with its code, while he was conscious as he used one or quite possibly two oxygen tanks.
The first draft of the findings will be ready in the beginning of March and will be submitted to all involved for any observations. The final verdict is expected to be issued in June.
In the meantime, Cypriot Government spokesperson Kypros Chrystostomidis announced the appointment of a committee for the investigation of the tragedy within the week.
The Reenactment
The reenactment of the flight was made by an initiative of the Greek Investigative Committee, while Akrivos Tsolakis was also aboard the aircraft.
The OA Boeing 737-300 took off from Larnaca Airport at 11:07am with pilot Mr Zafeirakis and copilot Mr Granitsas. Ten persons in total were aboard the flight.
At 10,000 feet, as per statements by head of the Committee Serafeim Kamoutsis, the alarm sounded in the aircraft as partial decompression was observed. At 14,000 feet oxygen masks dropped, but for unknown reasons, the pilot continued the aircraft’s ascending course.
At 34,000 feet and while the aircraft was flying above Tzia, the descending course began, always on autopilot. As per the members of the Committee, Andreas Prodromou found a portable oxygen tank from the cabin, opened the cockpit, disconnected the autopilot and flew the aircraft for more than 10 minutes until it crashed in Grammatiko as it ran out of fuel.
An Air Force F-16 took part in the reenactment with pilot Lieutenant Panagiotis Stathopoulos, who was head of the two aircrafts’ formation approaching the Cypriot aircraft. The F-16 recorded today’s procedure.
At 12:30, the OA Boeing flew above Grammatiko at 2,000 feet, while an hour later landed on Eleftherios Venizelos Airport.