Safety Recommendation
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau recommends that, as a
matter of priority, Saab Aircraft AB modify the stall warning
system of the worldwide fleet of Saab 340 aircraft to give
sufficient warning of an impending stall to crews during flight in
icing conditions.
We are very concerned over the incident and the reasons behind
it and we will further review the subject safety recommendation. In
reference to the recent telephone conference we would like to
propose a meeting to discuss the way we proceed working with you to
arrive at an acceptable solution. We foresee working towards a
solution to increase the flight crew awareness of flying in icing
conditions, and thereby reducing the risk of similar incidents in
the future.
During this effort it is our opinion that we need to work closely
with your organisation (ATSB) and our authorities, the Swedish
Accident Investigation Board (SHK) and the Swedish Civil Aviation
Board (LFV), to -find the best way to close this
recommendation.
We are proposing the meeting between ATSB, Saab and
representative(s) from the Swedish authorities to take place early
in May 2004 and the following items to be part of the agenda:
The certification procedures for flight in icing conditions
including flight test procedures, and our experience of flight in
icing conditions
Review of the investigation report with reference to our experience
regarding certification and flight in icing conditions
Training of operators and crew including a review of manuals and
checklists
ATSB and Australian experience of local weather phenomena, such as
icing conditions applicable to this incident.
Following a serious incident to an Australian registered Saab
340 in 2002, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB)
recommended that, as a matter of priority, Saab Aircraft AB modify
the stall warning system of the worldwide fleet of Saab 340
aircraft to give sufficient warning of an impending stall to crews
during flight in icing conditions.
Saab Aircraft AB (Saab) have proposed the fitment of an ice
detector system which, according to Saab, would give adequate
warning to crews of inflight ice accretion to Saab 340
aircraft.
The ATSB accepts the alternative action as proposed by Saab and
believes that it meets the spirit of the recommendation. Therefore
the status of the recommendation is closed.
The ATSB would encourage Saab to make the detector available as
soon as possible to operators and issue a service bulletin together
with an up-date of the AOM (Aircraft Operational Manual). Further
we would encourage Saab to provide training to operators during the
"winter training program" as soon as it is available.
ATSB Comment: A series of meetings were held between the
manufacturer, CASA, the Australian operators of the aircraft type
and the ATSB in May 2004. Saab undertook to review the issues
surrounding this and other icing incidents to the Saab 340
aircraft. The operators also undertook to review their procedures
relating to flight in icing conditions.
Saab met with the ATSB and CASA in March 2005 and outlined their
development of an ice advisory system for fitment to Saab 340
aircraft.
The system consisted of an ice detector and an advisory light that
would illuminate and warn the crew if ice was present. They also
planned to visit the Australian operators to brief them on the ice
detection system and Saab's winter operation training program.
