Close call for Singapore Airlines flight after sensor covers missed

A Singapore Airlines flight almost took off from Brisbane with critical airspeed sensors covered up, a report has revealed.

A Singapore Airlines A350-900. Picture: Singapore Airlines

An eagle-eyed aircraft refueller saved a Singapore Airlines’ flight taking off from Brisbane Airport with critical airspeed sensors covered up, a new report has revealed.

The threat of mud wasps building nests in Pitot tubes which provide airspeed information to pilots, has prompted the requirement for covers during even short turnarounds in Brisbane.

On the morning of May 27, a Singapore Airlines A350 was being prepared for pushback by a licensed aircraft maintenance engineer (LAME) and a much less experienced engineer (AME) during a scheduled 2-hour turnaround.

A preliminary report by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau said covers had been placed over the four Pitot tubes, and a placard left in the flight deck to alert pilots to the fact.

As final preparations were made before push back, the LAME removed the placard from the flight deck despite having no evidence the covers had been taken off the Pitot tubes.

“The LAME stated that they had not verified that the pitot covers were removed or requested that the AME remove the pitot covers but assumed that they would have been removed by that time,” said the ATSB report.

Image from an ATSB report on a Singapore Airlines flight that almost took off with its airspeed sensors covered up. Picture: ATSB

With four-minutes remaining until pushback, a refueller working on an adjacent bay, saw that the Singapore Airlines aircraft was ready for departure but the pitot covers were still fitted.

The alarm was raised with the LAME who alerted the other engineer just as the pilots requested pushback approval from air traffic control.

“With two minutes remaining until the expected departure time, the LAME positioned an elevated work platform on each side of the nose to remove the pitot covers,” the ATSB report said.

“Pushback commenced just after the covers were removed.”

The report noted the LAME had a considerable workload on the morning of the incident, and the AME was yet to complete their induction training with the engineering maintenance contractor.

With moments to spare, engineers remove the Pitot tube covers from a Singapore Airlines A350 at Brisbane Airport. Picture: ATSB

In 2018, a Malaysia Airlines flight took off from Brisbane with its Pitot tubes covered, after they were missed by four people.

Despite having no reliable airspeed information, the A330 reached an altitude of 11,000 feet, as pilots made urgent calls to air traffic control.

A back up speed scale system known as BUSS and the guidance of controllers, allowed the aircraft to return to Brisbane, where it made an overweight landing resulting in some damage.

None of the 229 passengers and crew was hurt.

As a result of the incident, airlines were encouraged to have a placard placed in the flight deck alerting pilots of the presence of pitot covers, until they are removed before takeoff.

The ATSB investigation into the May 27 incident was continuing, including examination of the flight crew pre-flight inspection procedures and the training records for the engineers.

Originally published as Close call for Singapore Airlines flight after sensor covers missed