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Lithium-powered transmitter seen as likely spark of Ethiopian Heathrow fire
A LITHIUM battery-powered emergency locator transmitter (ELT) has been identified as the most probable cause of a fire that broke out on a parked Ethiopian Airlines' Boeing 787-8 in July 2013 at London Heathrow that did not result in any injuries as no one was on board the aircraft when flames spread through the cabin and burnt the fuselage.
According to the UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), ELT battery wires, crossed and trapped under the battery compartment cover-plate and most likely created a short-circuit current path which resulted in a rapid, uncontrolled discharge of the battery.
"Neither the cell-level nor battery-level safety features prevented this single-cell failure, which propagated to adjacent cells, resulting in a cascading thermal runaway, rupture of the cells and consequent release of smoke, fire and flammable electrolyte," said investigators, according to the UK's Air Cargo News.
Fourteen Safety Recommendations have been made over the course of the inquiry. In addition the ELT manufacturer, Honeywell, carried out a number of safety actions and is redesigning the ELT unit to take into account the findings of the inquiry.
Boeing and the US Federal Aviation Administration have also introduced new safety measures. Last month, the US aircraft manufacturer issued an advisory that large quantities of lithium-ion batteries, such as those used in mobile phones, were not to be carried in luggage stored inside aircraft bellyholds until improved packaging is in place.
Fires in consignments of lithium batteries have been implicated in the loss of three aircraft over the last decade.
According to the UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), ELT battery wires, crossed and trapped under the battery compartment cover-plate and most likely created a short-circuit current path which resulted in a rapid, uncontrolled discharge of the battery.
"Neither the cell-level nor battery-level safety features prevented this single-cell failure, which propagated to adjacent cells, resulting in a cascading thermal runaway, rupture of the cells and consequent release of smoke, fire and flammable electrolyte," said investigators, according to the UK's Air Cargo News.
Fourteen Safety Recommendations have been made over the course of the inquiry. In addition the ELT manufacturer, Honeywell, carried out a number of safety actions and is redesigning the ELT unit to take into account the findings of the inquiry.
Boeing and the US Federal Aviation Administration have also introduced new safety measures. Last month, the US aircraft manufacturer issued an advisory that large quantities of lithium-ion batteries, such as those used in mobile phones, were not to be carried in luggage stored inside aircraft bellyholds until improved packaging is in place.
Fires in consignments of lithium batteries have been implicated in the loss of three aircraft over the last decade.
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