Aero-Naves – Preliminary Report on LATAM Flight Incident in Oceania Shows Little Progress and Many Questions

The preliminary report on the incident of LATAM flight LA800 between Sydney and Auckland shows little progress in clarifying the events. While other hypotheses are ruled out, the investigation remains focused on the captain’s seat. The Directorate General of Civil Aeronautics (DGAC) is in charge of the investigation of the incident that occurred on March 11, 2024. The Boeing 787-9 (registration CC-BGG) is still at Auckland Airport for the necessary examinations.

The first conclusions of the preliminary report of LATAM flight LA800 mention an “involuntary forward movement” of the seat. Hypotheses related to weather effects that could have caused the “sudden descent” of the aircraft, which left 50 people affected and 13 hospitalized, are ruled out. Since the theory of the involuntary seat movement was known on March 15, the DGAC’s preliminary report on LATAM flight LA800 does not represent significant progress. On March 15, information associated with that hypothesis was already published to explain the emergency.

The aviation media The Air Current, associated with Boeing, published that the left seat of the cockpit moved involuntarily to the extent that it pushed the pilot against the aircraft’s controls, causing the nose of the plane to angle downward, resulting in the sudden descent. This hypothesis, still under investigation, could explain the “strong movement” and the passengers’ accounts of a “steep descent.” The flight crew’s statements are key to providing background information for the investigation.

The publication also mentions that a possible short circuit is not ruled out, which could fit with the “technical event” mentioned by LATAM after the emergency. This hypothesis could lead Boeing to take preventive actions, which is why the investigation is being closely followed amid a scrutinized scenario for the manufacturer. Press reports indicate that the DGAC is conducting inquiries with all parties involved, including LATAM, Boeing, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) of New Zealand.

The investigation also reviews Boeing’s bulletins and airworthiness directives, operator information, and the aircraft’s history. For now, technical problems related to maintenance are ruled out. Since the report on LATAM’s flight is preliminary, the investigation continues, and many key points to determine the cause of the incident remain unresolved. There is no deadline for the final report.

Slow Progress

Across the Pacific, the preliminary report on LATAM flight LA800 shows little progress. According to the lawyer advising the passengers on that flight, there are still many vital questions to be answered. Peter Carter, director of Carter Capner Law, says that photographs of the pilot’s and first officer’s seats in the report reveal a significant difference in the resting position of the seat switch covers.

“While the cover on the back of the first officer’s seat is flush with the back of the seat, the cover on the pilot’s seat switch is not,” he says. He adds that the preliminary report does not comment on the different positions except to say that investigations are ongoing. In this regard, he mentions that an incomplete closure of the pilot seat switch cover when at rest raises the possibility that it could be activated if inadvertently pressed.

For the lawyer, several questions remain unresolved:

What role did maintenance, components, or crew conduct play?
How did the seat so violently affect the aircraft’s cruise?
What measures were taken to prevent this from happening?
“These are all important questions to discover the cause of the accident, and we must wait and see,” he emphasizes. Carter mentions that the hypothesis that a crew member could have inadvertently activated the switch is crucial and that it is important to analyze everything surrounding LATAM flight LA800.

“The report doesn’t say much, but the photographs showing the cockpit seat switch covers suggest this is a probable factor,” the lawyer emphasizes. The firm continues to monitor the progress of the investigation carried out by the DGAC. In a statement, it says it is advising clients in Chile, Brazil, New Zealand, Australia, the United States, and Colombia individually.

Original source here: Aero-Naves