An undated picture of the ill-fated aircraft Ukrainian aircraft manufacturer Antonov said the АN−12 freighter, that crashed in South S...
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| An undated picture of the ill-fated aircraft |
Ukrainian aircraft manufacturer Antonov said the АN−12 freighter, that crashed in South Sudan on November 4, was unfit for flight operations.
The 44 year old aircraft had missed critical maintenance and service extension works stipulated by the Operational Manual.
The AN−12B with registration EY−406 crashed during the initial climb phase, after taking off from the Juba international airport, South Sudan.
The freighter crashed 800 m from the runway, just short of the White Nile river, killing 43 of the 44 on board.
The aircraft registered in Republic of Tajikistan, was constructed at Tashkent Aircraft Production Plant on February 26, 1971.
Owned by Tajikistan's Asia Airways and chartered by Sudanese Allied Services Ltd, the four engined AN-12 was en-route to Paloich.
Following the crash, the Asia Airways remaining fleet of two An-12, Ilyushin-76 and An-26 freighters averaging more than 35 years of life has been grounded.
The An-12 aircraft first flew in 1957, and 1243 were produced in three plants across Soviet Union until 1973.
The aircraft is similar to the US built Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules airlifter, in terms of configuration, capability and size.
Antonov says proper maintenance and life extension programs can prolong the life of the airlifter to 55 years or 55,000 flight hours.
Overloading has been sited as a possible cause for the crash.
