A potentially serious oversight was averted at Brisbane Airport thanks to the vigilance of an alert refueller. The incident involved a Singapore Airlines Airbus A350-900, which was moments away from departing with its pitot covers still attached. This event underscores the critical role of ground personnel in ensuring flight safety.
On May 27, 2022, Singapore Airlines Flight SQ256 was gearing up for its journey back to Singapore after a two-hour turnaround. The aircraft, registered as 9V-SHH, was under the care of two Heston MRO aircraft engineers. While one was overseeing the operations for SQ256, the other, a new recruit, was assisting with another aircraft’s turnaround. As part of standard procedure, all four pitot probes of the A350 were covered for protection while on the ground in Brisbane. These covers are crucial for preventing damage or blockage to the pitot tubes, which are essential for measuring airspeed.
The supervising engineer noted the cover-fitting in the cockpit’s technical log and placed a warning placard on the engine controls—a reminder of the pitot covers’ presence. However, during the pre-flight preparations, a crucial step was missed. Despite the first officer likely noticing the pitot covers during his walk-around—an action confirmed as standard by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau—the covers remained on as the aircraft readied for pushback.
It was the keen observation of a refueller from an adjacent parking bay that prevented the aircraft from departing in this unsafe condition. Noticing the pitot covers were still in place as the plane was about to push back, he immediately alerted the supervising engineer.
Prompt Response and Reflective Measures
The incident prompted immediate action. The crew, already in the process of requesting pushback and with the aircraft’s beacons activated, was informed to stand by while the pitot covers were swiftly removed. This response prevented a repeat of a similar occurrence in July 2018, where a Malaysia Airlines A330-300, also serviced by Heston MRO (then known as AMSA), took off with its pitot covers intact.
Following the 2018 incident, Heston MRO had introduced measures to ensure better control over pitot covers and equipment used during turnarounds. Despite these efforts, the SQ256 incident highlighted a gap in the effectiveness of these measures, particularly in tracking tools and equipment before pushback. The investigation into the incident also pointed out the potential risks associated with fatigue, especially for personnel juggling multiple roles, and has since led to changes in Heston MRO’s policies regarding workload management and fatigue tracking.
In response, Singapore Airlines has taken additional steps to enhance the visibility of pitot covers and reinforced the importance of thorough pre-flight inspections with its cockpit crews. This incident serves as a crucial reminder of the importance of vigilance, teamwork, and the continuous improvement of safety protocols in aviation.
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