AA flew a non-ETOPS A321S LAX-HNL on Aug 31; Oops!

[N924PS]

It looks like the A321H has 4 dual lane slide rafts and 2 single lane rafts, similar to the A330. This will hold the passenger and crew load.   However, you are correct, there is a single 25 person Auxiliary Raft installed on the A321H.

Check your info.

The A321H has 4 Dual Lane Slide Rafts plus the 25 person Auxiliary Raft.

The othe 4 are basic Single Lane Slides.

 

[eolesen]

So IOW, the FA's also screwed up by not noticing they didn't have the aux raft?...

 

[700UW]

What I dont understand is how can a mechanic do an ETOPS check on a plane that isnt ETOPS certified and sign off the job card and the logbook.
 
Seems like too many missed opportunities to catch this mistake before the flight left.

 

[jcw]

And to be clear the US side has been running ETOPS operations for an extremely long time with Airbus aircraft to the Caribbean so this has nothing to do with the management team - clearly some one made a mistake - to turn this into management made this happen is a red herring

 
My mistake on the ETOPS vs EOW - I screwed that comment up - apologies to all

 

[SkydrolJunkie]

What I dont understand is how can a mechanic do an ETOPS check on a plane that isnt ETOPS certified and sign off the job card and the logbook.
 
Seems like too many missed opportunities to catch this mistake before the flight left.

 
I've worked with some of the mechanics AA hires? It's amazing more like this hasn't happened!

 

[skinvalve]

No big deal just use your seat cushion as a flotation device.

 

[Glenn Quagmire]

Geez. 7 pages of speculation.

I am glad this was found now. This will certainly drive some SRM review.

Small moves Ellie.

 

[1AA]

What I dont understand is how can a mechanic do an ETOPS check on a plane that isnt ETOPS certified and sign off the job card and the logbook.
 
Seems like too many missed opportunities to catch this mistake before the flight left.

What I don't understand is how a stock clerk can mix up 387 bulbs with 378. They both look alike and fit but don't work. To answer your question again the paper work is what we follow. It does not state to check the aircraft and make sure it's an ETOPS aircraft. The closest thing will be logbook review and MEL restrictions. There is and never was too my knowledge anything that states to check all the required equipment that makes the aircraft ETOPS capable. This never happened before. First time I heard this in over 30 years with AA. We never had the ETOPS stripe on the nose door in the past and still got it right. Under the new American with USAIR in control is where many issues with maintenance have been piling up. This is just another one on the list.

 

[700UW]

The plane was not ETOPS at all, so how can you do a check on a plane that isn't required as it's not an ETOPS qualified plane at all?

 

[Rogallo]

Poor Management! The Company failed, period.

 

[Glenn Quagmire]

What I don't understand is how a stock clerk can mix up 387 bulbs with 378. They both look alike and fit but don't work. To answer your question again the paper work is what we follow. It does not state to check the aircraft and make sure it's an ETOPS aircraft. The closest thing will be logbook review and MEL restrictions. There is and never was too my knowledge anything that states to check all the required equipment that makes the aircraft ETOPS capable. This never happened before. First time I heard this in over 30 years with AA. We never had the ETOPS stripe on the nose door in the past and still got it right. Under the new American with USAIR in control is where many issues with maintenance have been piling up. This is just another one on the list.

How does a system allow an etops work deck to be assigned to a non-etops aircraft?

It will be figured out. Thankfully prior to an accident. You and 700 need to get over each other.

700. What is it with you? You seem to spend 24 hours a day on here to try and find the littlest error someone may or may not make.

Damm. Get laid or something.

 

[1AA]

The plane was not ETOPS at all, so how can you do a check on a plane that isn't required as it's not an ETOPS qualified plane at all?

Why don't you educate me on how a ETOPS aircraft is suppose to look versus a non ETOPS. Perhaps three wings instead of two? Different tread pattern on the tires? Maybe a ETOPS aircraft has white wall tires? Better yet a non ETOPS has seats facing aft versus facing forward on a ETOPS aircraft. I already explained it to you that the ETOPS paperwork does not point out to check specific items that are ETOPS vs non ETOPS because when we get the paperwork it's based on the aircraft type. The check is basically a dependability check to make sure certain areas are checked and services. Fluid servicing, ACARS paper, oxygen pressure, a walkaround inspection, cargo inspections, tire pressure checks, a brief walk through the cabin. A few more things including review the logbook for repeat items and inbound discrepancies. It's obvious you want to blame the AMT'S. We know you have an agenda against us. Too bad this issue is something you know nothing about because you never were a FAA certified AMT and never performed a ETOPS let alone any check on a aircraft that requires a sign off in the logbook. Regardless of the outcome someone will take the fall. It starts with routers at the equipment desk if in fact the aircraft was not a ETOPS configured aircraft versus a ETOPS downgraded due to MEL restrictions. If it's a MEL restriction then the dispatcher, maintenance and flight are to blame.

 

[N924PS]

Deleted

 

[700UW]

Well it made the web.
 
http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2015/09/11/oops-american-accidentally-flies-wrong-plane-to-hawaii/#.VfNM-iNf0kQ.facebook

 

The number of A321 flights to Hawaii is continuing to grow, as American is launching flights on the A321 from Los Angeles to Kona, Kahului, and Lihue.
 
The A321 is perfectly capable of flying to Hawaii, though like all other planes flying long distances without diversion points, it requires an ETOPS rating.
 
For those of you not familiar, ETOPS stands for “extended-range twin-engine operational performance standards.”
While New York to Los Angeles and Los Angeles to Honolulu are roughly the same distance, you can divert almost at any point during the former flight, since it’s entirely over land. Meanwhile when you’re spending five hours crossing an ocean, there are lots more concerns and variables. ETOPS planes have life rafts, etc.
 

 

[1AA]

Well it made the web.
 
http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2015/09/11/oops-american-accidentally-flies-wrong-plane-to-hawaii/#.VfNM-iNf0kQ.facebook

Gee thanks for that info on ETOPS. Like we don't know what the ETOPS program consists of. BTW, before you start going off every AMT has annual recurrent training on the ETOPS as well as log book training. The ETOPS program is all spelled out in the GPM. We are all too familiar with it. In this case we will have to wait and see where the investigation goes and who was responsible. I can almost guarantee the ETOPS paperwork will be revised to verify tail numbers on a mixed fleet type such as the 757's and the A321's.