THE Irish Air Accident Investigation Unit in Ireland has released further information about the fatal Manx2.com plane crash in Cork.
Six people were killed when a Manx2.com flight, operated by the Spanish company Flightline BCN, crashed at Cork Airport on February 10, 2011, after three attempts at landing.
In March last year a preliminary report into the disaster was published but EU regulation states that if a final report cannot be made public within 12 months an interim statement must be released on the anniversary of the incident.
The new report states the plane's propellers – which were "severely damaged" – engines and associated engine control components were examined at the respective manufacturers' facilities in America following the crash.
No "pre-accident defects" were identified with either of the propeller assemblies and the report states that the evidence indicates that the propellers were "operating correctly at the time of impact".
The aircraft's technical log book was examined by the investigation and no recorded defects or deferred defects were entered between November 2010 and the date of the incident.
The plane's engines were also found to have had no pre-accident defects although there was an "engine control component issue".
The report states that data from the flight data recorder (FDR), from the earliest recordings 106 hours prior to the incident, showed that there was a "mismatch" between the two torques being delivered to the engines,
It reads: "In general the recordings showed that the torque being delivered by No 2 engine exceeded that being delivered by No 1 engine by up to five per cent. It was also noted that as the power levers for both engines were being advanced prior to take offs, the torque response for No 2 engine was faster than for No 1 engine."
According to the Irish Air Accident Investigation Unit a flight path analysis, being carried out with the assistance of the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), will "analyse the complex aerodynamic factors involved during the final phase of flight".
The report stated: "This analysis, together with the limited FDR data available, may provide additional information regarding the loss of control of the aircraft."
The investigation unit also said the investigation into the "complex relationships" between the Air Operator Certificate holder, the ticket seller and the "undertaking which supplied the aircraft and flight crew" is continuing.
A final report on the plane crash will be issued in due course.
To read the full report click here.
