Investigation into AZAL Aircraft Crash Continues with International Cooperation

A press conference was held by Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev, where he stated that the modular avionics unit from the Embraer-190 aircraft belonging to the Azerbaijani airline AZAL, which crashed near Aktau, has been sent for examination to the equipment developer Honeywell International in the US. The unit was dispatched to Phoenix, Arizona, USA, as part of an agreement to coordinate joint decisions with Brazil, Russia, and Azerbaijan. The review of documents for the preparation of reports by the three subcommittees is continuing, and after all the appointed examinations have been completed, the commission will begin preparing the final report. The preliminary report published by the Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan confirms several critical facts, including the aircraft's airworthiness, engine operation, loss of GPS signals, and external damage to the fuselage.

Key Takeaways:

• The Embraer 190-100 IGW passenger aircraft, registered under the number 4K-AZ65 and owned by Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC (AZAL), was in a fully operational condition since the start of the flight.
• Both engines of the aircraft were operating without technical problems until the moment of the accident, confirmed by FDR data.
• During the flight in the airspace of the Russian Federation, the aircraft lost GPS signals.
• The aircraft was unable to make a second approach for landing due to adverse weather conditions, leading to a decision to return to Baku.
• A comparison of CVR and FDR data showed that the third hydraulic system failed, followed by the first and second hydraulic systems, 4, 6, and 21 seconds later, respectively.
• Numerous blunt and penetrating damages to the fuselage were found, primarily on the vertical and horizontal stabilizers, as well as the left wing and left engine.
• Foreign objects found in the fuseage damage were removed and their origin is still unclear, awaiting additional examination.
• The main control systems failed at 05:13:32, and the liaison officer reported Operation Carpet underway at 05:21:42.
• No information indicates an oxygen cylinder explosion was a factor in the crash.

Statistics:

• 4K-AZ65 is the registration number of the Embraer 190-100 IGW passenger aircraft.
• 35 passengers lost their lives in the crash.
• 6 fatal injuries were reported among the crew.
• The aircraft was in a fully operational condition since the start of the flight on the route to Grozny.
• FDR data confirmed the operation of the aircraft's control systems and its airworthiness.

Sources:

• Trend News Agency
• Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev
• Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan
• Honeywell International
• ICAO Chicago Convention