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"Overlooking Runway 25 - Right, at Los Angeles International Airport"

"Steeplechase"

On The Scene at Toulouse, France

Feature Date: Nov. 15, 2007

Event Date: Nov. 30, 2007

Countryman & McDaniel

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"Overlooking Runway 25 - Right, at Los Angeles International Airport"

On The Scene -- At Toulouse, France

 A 2007 Countryman & McDaniel

Cargo Nightmare Prize Contender

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Other Great Disasters of our Time

The Cargo Letter Photo Gallery of Transport Loss

"Explorer Ship Down" - M/V Explorer - Nov. 2007

"Kwanyang Crane Kaboom" - Nov. 2007

"Den Den Done" - M/V Denden - Sept. 2007

"For The "L" of It" - M/V Action Alpha - August 2007

"Pepito Flores Did Not Need To Die " - OUR INVESTIGATION RESULTS

"Full Speed Ahead" - M/V Alva Star - Nov. 2006

"Where The Trade Winds Blew" - Oct. 2006

"Full Speed Ahead!" - M/V Alva Star - Nov. 2006

"Maersk Montevideo Melee!" - M/V Leda Maersk - Oct. 2006

"Laying Down On The Job" - M/V Cougar Ace -- Aug. 2006 -- Amazing !

"Vine Ripened Tires" - M/V Saga Spray -- May 2006 -- Amazing !

"Mis-Fortune" - M/V Hyundai Fortune - March 2006

"Scheldt Snafu!" - M/V Grande Nigeria - Feb. 2006

"A Day A The Beach - M/V APL Panama - Jan. 2006

"NO Rails" - destruction of New Orleans - Dec. 2005

"Backhaul !" - for July 2005

"The Boeing Tri-Motor" - for April 2005

"Catch of The Day" - for March 2005

"One Brick Short of A Runway" - for Jan. 2005

M/T Vicuna Explodes - for Jan. 2005

"Unstacked" - overboard & Dr. Beach - Nov. 2004

"Coal Face" - the cargo was danger - July 2004

"Super Loss" - March 2004

"On A Wing & A Prayer" - Jan. 2004

"Stepping In It" - Dec. 2003

"Angel Fire" - Nov. 2003

 

"Singles Only" -- Our One Photo Disasters

"Broken Spirit" - M/V Tasman Spirit - Aug. 2003

"Denise & Polargo" - a love story - July 2003

"Columbia River Round Up" - June 2003

"Keel Hualed" - M/V Hual Europe - May 2003

"Thrice Bitten" -- M/V Tricolor - Jan. 2003

"Ramp-Age" - Feb. 2003

"Piñata" - breaking the box - Jan. 2003

"Halifax Hash"--M/V Maersk Carolina - Jan. 2003

"Thar She Blows!" - M/V Hanjin Pennsylvania - Nov. 2002

"T-E-U Bar-Be-Cue" - aftermath of the Pennsylvania

"Container Pool" - a mystery - May 2002

"Strangers On My Flight" -- by Frank Sinatra - don't blame us - we only report this stuff!

"Dropping In On The Trucker" - it happened again - April 2002

"UNDER Achiever" - tell your friends ! - March 2002

Tell It To The U.S. Marines! - A Symbol of Our Day of Infamy - Sept. 11

Heavy Metal - lifting the un-liftable object - Disaster at Monrovia July 2001

Rail Mate -- an Egyptian rail loss - Tragedy At Ain Sokhna July 2001

Meals: Ready To Explode - Navy container barbecue at Guam! June 2001

America West Kisses Concrete M/V Ville De Orion - stack shift at LAX

U.S. Navy EP- 3 -- China Hostage Situation - Spring 2001

Attack On USS Cole (DDG-67) - - Dramatic Photos!

M/V OOCL America - Feb. 2000

M/V APL China - world's greatest container disaster - Nov. 1998

M/V New Carissa - the ship that would not die - 1999

M/V Tampa Maersk "on a dock diet"

Hanjin's Bad Stab - Under The Dock At Pusan, Korea - Exclusive Photo!

.....See Them All ....The Cargo Letter Photo Gallery of Transport Loss

 

"Steeplechase"

On The Scene At

Toulouse, France

A Cargo Nightmare Prize Contender

The Date: Nov. 15, 2007

The Time: 5 p.m.

The Place: Toulouse, France

 

The New Etihad Airways A340-600 Before The Last Engne Test - Her Final Flight

Next There Would Be Another Full Power Run-Up Engine Test

A340-600 - AIRCRAFT DIMENSIONS

Overall length - 75.3 m. (247 ft. 1 in.)

Height - 17.3 m. (56 ft. 9 in.)

Fuselage diameter - 5.64 m. (18 ft. 6 in.)

Maximum cabin width - 5.28 m. (17 ft. 4 in.)

Cabin length - 60.98 m. (200 ft. 1 in.)

Wingspan (geometric) - 63.45 m. (208 ft. 2 in.)

Wing area (reference) - 439.4 m2 (4,729 ft2)

Wing sweep (25% chord) - 31.1 degrees

Wheelbase - 32.89 m. (107 ft. 11 in.)

Wheel track - 10.69 m. (35 ft. 1 in.)

A340- 600 - BASIC OPERATING DATA

Engines - RR Trent 500

Engine thrust range - 249 (267) kN 56,000 (60,000) lb. slst

Typical passenger seating - 380

Range - 14,360 km. (7,750 nm.)

Max. operating Mach number (Mmo) - 0.86 Mo. (0.86 Mo.)

Bulk hold volume - Standard/option - 19.7 / 13.76 m3 (695 / 486 ft3)

DESIGN WEIGHTS

Maximum ramp weight - 369.2 m tons (813.9 lbs. x 1000)

Maximum takeoff weight - 368 m tons (811.3 lbs. x 1000)

Maximum landing weight - 259 m tons (571 lbs. x 1000)

Maximum zero fuel weight - 245 (251) tons (540.1 lbs. x 1000)

Maximum fuel capacity - 195,881 Litres (51,746 US gal.)

The A340 Number MSN 856
 

PROLOG >>An accident occurred at the Airbus Saint-Martin factory site in Toulouse, France on Nov. 15 at 5 pm local time, when engine-run-ups were being carried out on an A340-600, Number MSN 856 (to be A6-EHG), which was due to be delivered to Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates.

The delivery of Number MSN 856 was to be in 6 days. She was fully checked out -- and full of fight as the coming photos will disclose.

The A340-600 jumped her chocks during an engine run-up test and -- the plane shot foarward like a rocket at full power. She went up -- almost over the blast wall. Number MSN 856 went up and through a blast fence wall. Number MSN 856 has suffered substantial damage.

There were 9 persons on board. Of them, 5 crew sustained injuries. There were no fatalities -- although only God knows why.

Airbus reports that of the 5 injured people, 3 remain in hospital. Two were released overnight. Of the 3 persons remaining in hospital, one is an employee of Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies (ADAT), a service provider for Etihad Airways, and 2 are Airbus employees. Airbus and ADAT are providing all necessary support to the persons involved and their families. An investigation has started and Airbus is providing full support to the official investigation authorities in France.

Number MSN 856 jumped her chocks and almost jumped the blast wall. Wall jumpig for a cross country run is know as a "steeplecchase."

The steeplechase is a form of horse racing (primarily conducted in the United Kingdom, United States, France & Ireland) and derives its name from early races in which orientation of the course was by reference to a church steeple, jumping fences and ditches and generally traversing the many intervening obstacles in the countryside. In the UK and Ireland the term steeplechase is not used, even though the word originated in Ireland: the term (and formal code of racing) is National Hunt racing. It is a term now used to refer to a distance horse race with diverse fence and ditch obstacles; the most famous of these is the Grand National run annually at Aintree Racecourse, in Liverpool, since its conception in 1837.

Number MSN 856 had a short steeplechase -- and thankfully -- everyone lived to tell the tale.

As for me, there have been many content hours spent aboard the A340.

Michael S. McDaniel - Your Editor

The New Etihad Airways A340-600 After The Last Engne Test

The Cargo Letter for Nov. 17 2007 -- Full Power Test

This Airbus 340-600 met with an accident on Nov. 15, 2007 -- off the final assembly line at Toulouse-Blagnac International Airport, southwestern France. She was due to be delivered to UAE national carrier Etihad Airways.

The four-engined ultra-long-haul aircraft, due to be delivered to Etihad on Nov 21, was involved in a collision on the ground during engine testing at 5.00 pm local time in Toulouse. The aircraft was undergoing engine run-ups at the time it crashed through a barrier. The Etihad spokesman said it is too early to comment on whether it will receive compensation either from Airbus or the third party maintenance provider overseeing the tests. He confirmed that the Airbus aircraft was registered in France with a French registration in preparation for its planned handover to Etihad.

Number MSN 856 Failed Her Steeplechase

No Etihad Airways staff were involved in the incident, said the airline's Bahrain-based general manager for northern Gulf, Hussam Al Aseeri.

The aircraft which slammed into a wall on Nov. 15 was undergoing final pre-delivery tests A full power run-up.

Most of the people involved in the aircraft are employees of Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies, a Middle Eastern maintenance company. Airbus staff were also present.

Although the aircraft is in Etihad livery, it is not registered to Etihad yet. It currently has a French registration.

Of the 3 persons remaining in hospital, one is an employee of Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies (ADAT), a contractor working for Etihad, and 2 are Airbus employees. Injuries sustained to them are not life-threatening.

Number MSN 856 Nosed Up - #2 Engine Here Deeply Scored The Wall

Etihad Airways said an accident involving an Airbus A340-600 aircraft due to be delivered to the Abu Dhabi-based airline is unlikely to have a 'significant impact' on its operations, although the full impact has not yet been assessed, said the airline's Bahrain-based general manager for northern Gulf, Hussam Al Aseeri.

The aircraft, one of two A340-600s due to be delivered by the end of the year, to complete the order of 4, was intended 'as a back-up aircraft to support overall fleet maintenance,' an Etihad spokesman said. However, 'it is too early to assess the impact of the loss of the aircraft on operations,' he added.

The Other Side of The Blast Wall - Grim - Damage Unimaginable

Etihad said in a statement that it 'has been made aware that a number of people have been taken to hospital following the ground incident in which the aircraft sustained significant airframe damage during routine engine performance tests.'

The accident took place at Airbus's Saint-Martin site at Toulouse Blagnac, adjacent to the city's airport. Airbus confirmed that 5 of the 9 people on board aircraft MSN 856 were injured; there were no fatalities.

Airbus confirmed that of the 5 people injured, 3 remained in hospital. One is an employee of Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies, and two are Airbus employees.

Etihad currently operates two A340-600 aircraft, with 2 more, including the one involved in the accident, due for delivery by the end of the year.

The Cockpit Was Severed & Fell To The Ground From A Height of About 15 Meters Atop The Wall.

A Full Technical Crew of 9 Was Aboard

Five people Aboard Were Injured, 3 of Them Seriously. No Steeplechase For These Crew - But The Same Effect

A340 Problems Prior To November 2007.

20 January 1994 - Air France, an A340-211 (F-GNIA) was lost to fire during servicing at Charles de Gaulle International Airport.

24 July 2001 - SriLankan Airlines, an A340-300 (4R-ADD) was destroyed by an explosive charge. Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam launched a suicide attack at the Bandaranaike International Airport.

2 Aug. 2005 - Air France Flight 358, all 297 passengers and 12 crew survived a crash and fire after their A340-300 (F-GLZQ) overshot runway 24L at Toronto Pearson International Airport in a thunderstorm. The aircraft slid into Etobicoke Creek and broke up. Forty-three were injured, 1 seriously, some passengers jumped nearly 20 ft (6 m) to the ground.

 
 At Full Power The Impact Was Beyond Imagination - Who Could Have Survived This?

But All 9 Humans Survived This. A True Miracle.

Other A340 Problems In Nov. 2007

Nov. 9, 2007 - An Iberia Airlines A340-600 veered off a runway while landing in Ecuador. At least one tire burst as Flight 6463, inbound from Madrid with 330 passengers onboard, landed at Quito's Mariscal Sucre Airport, reports. The aircraft skidded off the runway, and came to rest tipped on its left wing with the number 1 & 2 engine nacelles bent inboard on their pylons.

"Just by looking at the jet, you could tell there was major damage," said airport director Diego Pachel. Local media reports say it was raining at the airport at the time of the accident.

The plane was still off the runway as of Nov. 17, as crews prepared to paint over the "Iberia" logo -- a common airline practice with aircraft still visible following an accident.

The A340-600 is the largest aircraft approved to land at Mariscal Sucre, which is in the heart of Quito and sits at 9,200 feet MSL.

The incident is the 2nd in 3 months involving an Iberia A340-600 landing in Quito. A second aircraft also burst its tires following a hard landing at the airport August 31.

More recently, on Nov. 1 2007, a South African Airways A340-600 departed the runway after landing at Cape Town International Airport. That aircraft was "taxiing at a very low speed" when the plane's nosegear slipped off the runway, according to the airline. 

The A340-600 Costs Over US$200,000,000 -- The Chocks Cost About US$20 For The Wood

Failure of One Caused Failure of The Other

It Aways The Little Things

Number MSN 856 Was Written Off

Number MSN 856 Will Never Fly Again

Never To Become A6-EHG For Etihad Airways

Other A340 Problems In Nov. 2007

Nov. 9, 2007 - An Iberia Airlines A340-600 veered off a runway while landing in Ecuador. At least one tire burst as Flight 6463, inbound from Madrid with 330 passengers onboard, landed at Quito's Mariscal Sucre Airport, reports. The aircraft skidded off the runway, and came to rest tipped on its left wing with the number 1 & 2 engine nacelles bent inboard on their pylons.

"Just by looking at the jet, you could tell there was major damage," said airport director Diego Pachel. Local media reports say it was raining at the airport at the time of the accident.

The plane was still off the runway as of Nov. 17, as crews prepared to paint over the "Iberia" logo -- a common airline practice with aircraft still visible following an accident.

The A340-600 is the largest aircraft approved to land at Mariscal Sucre, which is in the heart of Quito and sits at 9,200 feet MSL.

The incident is the 2nd in 3 months involving an Iberia A340-600 landing in Quito. A second aircraft also burst its tires following a hard landing at the airport August 31.

More recently, on Nov. 1 2007, a South African Airways A340-600 departed the runway after landing at Cape Town International Airport. That aircraft was "taxiing at a very low speed" when the plane's nosegear slipped off the runway, according to the airline. 

Number MSN 856 Had A Remarkably Short, But Active Life

But She Had One Steeplechase


Shippers Must Have Quality Marine Cargo Insurance ........ Because......... "Ship Happens! ©"

If We Have Ever Provided A Cautionary Tale In Support of Cargo Insurance -- This Is It!

Shipping International Air Cargo Is A Risky Business -- Anything Can Happen

To Repeat -- No Matter How Careful You Are -- Or Who You Hire ....... "Ship Happens! ©"

 

"Ship Happens! ©"


The Dedication of This Feature Is Simple: To The Employees of Airbus-- And To The Families. Airbus currently produces around half of the world's jet airliners. In 1966 Airbus Industrie began as a consortium of European aviation firms to compete with American companies such as Boeing, McDonnell Douglas, and Lockheed.

We Are Cheerleaders For Boeing -- But Airbus always Supplies Safe & Well Designed Planes.


SPECIAL NOTE: The historic dangers of carriage by sea continue to be quite real. Shippers must be encouraged to purchase high quality marine cargo insurance from their freight forwarder or customs brokerIt's dangerous out there.


INDEX TO OUR "Steeplechase" PAGE SPECIAL FEATURES:

READERS NOTE: This Section Not Yet Completed Due To Time
A340
A340

History and pictures of the Airbus A340-300

History and pictures of the Airbus A340-300 - the history of particular aircraft

Compare A340 Variants

A340 Long Range Aircraft

A340 Cabin Layout

A340-600 - Variant in this story

Video of Building An A340-600 - Amazing - 340 Seconds

Airbus

Airbus S.A.S
Headquarters - Toulouse, France

The Scene

Toulouse-Blagnac International Airport

Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies

Etihad Airways


Our Daily Vessel Casualties - stay informed

Other Ocean Related Features From The Cargo Letter- these are just examples

The Cargo Letter Photo Gallery of Transport Loss - For All The Air & Ocean Features - a few examples below

"Explorer Ship Down" - M/V Explorer - Nov. 2007

"Kwanyang Crane Kaboom" - Nov. 2007

"Den Den Done" - M/V Denden - Sept. 2007

"For The "L" of It" - M/V Action Alpha - August 2007

"Stack Attack!" - M/V Ital Florida - July 2007

"Riding Down The Marquis" - M/V Rickmars Dalian - June 2007

"Carrying Coal To Newcastle" - M/V Pasha Bulker - June 2007

"Between A Yacht & A Hard Place" - M/V Madame Butterfly - May 2007

"Boxing Up The Rhine" - M/V Excelsior - April 2007

"Best Worst Laid Plans?" - M/V Republica di Genoa - March 2007

"Crack'n On The Sidmouth" - M/V MSC Napoli - Jan. 2007

"Operation Jumbo Drop" - M/V Jumbo Challenger - March 2007

"Wrong Way Agulhas?" - M/V Safmarine Agulhas - Jan. 2007

"Full Speed Ahead" - M/V Alva Star - Nov. 2006

"Where The Trade Winds Blew" - Oct. 2006

"Maersk Montevideo Melee!" - M/V Leda Maersk - Oct. 2006

"Laying Down On The Job" - M/V Cargo Ace - Aug. 2006 The Marty Johnson Project Continues

"A Day A The Beach - M/V APL Panama - Jan. 2006

"Great Misfortune"- M/V Hyundai Fortune - March 2006

"Unstacked - Overboard With Dr. Beach" - Oct. 2004

"Columbia River Round Up" - June 2003

"Halifax Hash"--M/V Maersk Carolina - Jan. 2003

"Piñata" - breaking the box - Jan. 2003

"T-E-U Bar-Be-Cue" - aftermath of the M/V Pennsylvania Loss - Nov. 2002

"Container Pool" - a mystery - May 2002

"Dropping In On The Trucker" -happened again - April 2002

"Meals: Ready To Explode" - Navy Barbecue at Guam June 2001

"M/V Ville D' Orion" - Bad L.A. Stack Disaster! April 2001 -- UPDATED - May 2002

"Pier Review" - Sept. 2001

"Singles Only" - visit our individual moments of transport crisis for more.

The Greatest Container Losses Of All Time - these are the grand fathers -

M/V OOCL America

M/V APL China

......... The Above Disasters Are Just A Start ......The Cargo Letter Photo Gallery of Transport Loss - For All The Air & Ocean Features


SPECIAL NOTE: The historic dangers of carriage by sea continue to be quite real. Shippers must be encouraged to purchase high quality marine cargo insurance from their freight forwarder or customs broker. 

It's very dangerous out there.

Thanks To Our Contributors For The"Steeplechase" Feature

Our Contributors for this feature are:
Our Doc - anonymous expert who supplies glue to this Website

Stephanie Warren - Chairman of The Board, Calabasas Chamber of Commerce - Calabasas, California

The Cargo Letter appreciates the continuing efforts of these valued contributors. Thanks Pals!


NOTE: Please Provide Us With Your Additional Information For This Loss.

EDITOR'S NOTE FOR SURVEYORS, ATTORNEYS & MARINE ADJUSTERS: The Internet edition effort of The Cargo Letter now celebrates it's 8th Year of Service -- making us quite senior in this segment of the industry. We once estimated container underway losses at about 1,500 per year. Lloyd's put that figure at about 10,000 earlier this year. Quite obviously, the reporting mechanism for these massive losses is not supported by the lines. News of these events is not posted to the maritime community. Our new project is to call upon you -- those handling the claims -- to let us know of each container loss at sea-- in confidentiality. Many of you survey on behalf of cargo interests with no need for confidentiality. Others work for the lines & need to be protected. As a respected Int'l publication, The Cargo Letter enjoys full press privileges & cannot be forced to disclose our sources of information. No successful attempt has ever been made. If a personal notation for your report is desired -- each contributor will be given a "hot link" to your company Website in each & every report. Please take moment & report your "overside" containers to us. If you do not wish attribution, your entry will be "anonymous." This will will benefit our industry -- for obvious reasons! McD


* NOTE: The Cargo Letter wants you to know that by keeping the identity of our contributors 100% Confidential, you are able to view our continuing series of "Cargo Disasters." Our friends send us materials which benefit the industry. The materials are provided to our news publication with complete and enforceable confidentiality for the sender. In turn, we provide these materials to you.  

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