NTSB Chief Says That Was Inappropriate

NTSB Administrator Ellen Engleman Conners Wednesday took aim at both American Airlines and Airbus for what she said was excessive lobbying in the case of AAL 587, which crashed in Queens, NY more than three years ago, blaming both the airline and the manufacturer of the A300-600 for holding up the agency's final report.

While Conners didn't name American and Airbus specifically, she did say that the lobbying effort had "the potential for contaminating the investigation."

She said the report, which was finally released October 26th, was seriously delayed because board members ended up spending a lot of time responding to the companies' solicitations -- which later turned out to be irrelevant.

"That's not an appropriate thing to be happening," Conners said, as quoted by New York Newsday.

Board members found that AAL 587 went down because of the way copilot Sten Molin manipulated the rudder after encountering wake turbulence, moments after departing JFK.

"The first officer's control wheel and rudder inputs during the second wake encounter were unnecessary and too aggressive," said investigator Robert Benzon.

American Airlines said the problem that led to the delamination of the vertical stabilizer from the aircraft was a design flaw inherent in the A300-600. Airbus, on the other hand, contended the problem was with the way American pilots were taught to get out of turbulence problems -- by aggressively manipulating the rudder.

Not all NTSB members agree that the "lobbying" by American and Airbus was inappropriate. While Carol Carmody sided with Conners, Deborah Hersman told Newsday her meetings with the airline and the manufacturer were "part of our obligation to meet with the public."

Of course, neither American nor Airbus indicated they had done anything improper in their contacts with the board.

"We believe we had fruitful, productive discussions with board members and staff ... We firmly believe that our input was critical to this investigation," American spokesman Bruce Hicks told Newsday.

The report is out, the report is based on facts, not opinions, and it's not productive to get into criticisms at this point," said Airbus spokeswoman Mary Ann Greczyn.

There is no indication at this point that the NTSB will take any official action or will change its policies as a result of Conners' criticism.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov, www.aa.com, www.airbus.com