Story ID: 
Faulty Engine Control Software Caused A400M Crash
By: Chris Pocock
Caption: Airbus D&S says fault was confined to one aircraft, in a final production error.
Word Count: 445
The incorrect installation of engine-control software during production caused the crash of the A400M airlifter on May 9, according to the aircraft's manufacturer, Airbus Defence and Space. The European group said that the power from engines one, two and three froze after lift-off, with only engine four responding to the pilots’ throttle inputs. It reported that all aircraft delivered to date have been checked for any similar fault, with none found. “As far as we’re concerned, there’s no reason for the operators not to resume flying,” an Airbus spokesman told AIN.

However, the UK Royal Air Force (RAF) is seeking more data from Airbus via the Spanish accident investigation authority CITAAM before flying its two A400Ms again. A spokesman suggested to AIN that this might take another week “before our chain of command is satisfied.” One of the RAF aircraft is stranded in Canada, on a route-proving flight. Meanwhile, Airbus is hoping that the French air force will be able to supply a production example for display at the Paris Air Show next week. If not, the OEM will send one of the three development aircraft that are still flying. They have been conducting test flights throughout the past three weeks since the crash. Two more development aircraft (MSN1 and MSN3) have been retired.

Amplifying the sequence of events of the short-lived fatal flight, in an attempt to reduce power on the three nonresponsive engines, the aircrew set the power levers to "flight idle," Airbus said. This action succeeded, but the crew was then unable to restore any power on them. “Preliminary analyses have shown that all other aircraft systems performed normally,” Airbus added.

Some commentators have suggested that the UK Ministry of Defence might defer deliveries of A400Ms to the RAF as it searches for one-time savings of $750 million in this year’s budget that have been demanded by the newly elected government. According to the revised delivery schedule posted by Airbus D&S last January, the service was scheduled to receive seven aircraft this year. Longer-term, the new British government is conducting a new strategic defense and security review (SDSR) that could result in further defense cuts, having failed to pledge protection for the MoD’s budget in pre-election campaigning.

UPDATE June10: Airbus D&S said that development aircraft MSN6 will take part in the daily flying display at Le Bourget next week, flown by test pilots Nacho Lombo and Tony Flynn. Head of Military Aircraft Fernando Alonso said: "We have complete confidence in the A400M and we are delighted to fly our demo as planned."