Investigation Summary
The investigation revealed a systemic failure in maintenance and safety oversight. The aircraft (MSN 20123) had No. 4 engine cowls that had undergone multiple substandard repairs that did not comply with the Structural Repair Manual. These cowls had a history of latching issues that the operator, Azza Transport, failed to address. During the accident takeoff, the improperly secured cowls departed the airframe, severing the Pt7 flex line. This line is critical for the Engine Pressure Ratio (EPR) system, which the crew used as their primary indicator of engine thrust. The resulting erroneous reading suggested a total power loss on engine No. 4. While the engine was actually still producing thrust, the crew's response to the perceived failure led to a steep right-hand turn. The aircraft reached a bank angle of approximately 90 degrees, causing a stall at an altitude too low for recovery. The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) also noted that the Sudanese Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) had failed to provide adequate safety oversight of the operator's chronic maintenance deficiencies.
Final Conclusions
The GCAA Final Report (10/2009) concluded the primary causes were the departure of the No. 4 engine core cowls and the subsequent disconnection of the EPR flex line. This triggered an inappropriate crew response to a perceived power loss, leading to a stall after exceeding the maximum bank angle. Contributing factors included poor maintenance standards, failure of the operator's quality system to address known cowl latching issues, and deficient safety oversight by the SCAA.
Video Analysis
Lethal Deception | Sudan Airways Flight 2241 — A detailed look at the crash of Sudan Airways Flight 2241, exploring how maintenance failures and erroneous instrument readings led to the loss of a Boeing 707 in Sharjah.
If playback is blocked, the owner has disabled embedding — use the link above.
Airframe & Maintenance
Crew Experience
Captain
Mohamed el-Halfawi, age 61. Total flight hours 19,943; experience on the Boeing 707 was not stated in the final report.
First Officer
Aladdin Moharam, age 34.
Flight Engineer
Mohamed el-Fateh Mohyeddine, age 53.
Systems & Failure Modes
Engine Pressure Ratio (EPR) System
The primary thrust indication system on the Boeing 707. A rupture in the Pt7 flex line caused the system to provide false data, leading the crew to believe the engine had failed.
Engine Cowling Latches
Mechanical fasteners intended to secure the engine covers. The latches on engine No. 4 were damaged and poorly maintained, allowing the cowls to depart during takeoff.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was carrying a cargo of air conditioning units, car parts, computers, and tools.
- 02Both the Cockpit Voice Recorder and Flight Data Recorder were recovered but were found to be non-functional, providing no data for the investigation.
- 03The aircraft was 40 years old at the time of the accident, having first flown in 1968.
- 04Azza Transport was banned from operating in the UAE following the accident and ceased operations shortly thereafter.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Operator Ban
The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority banned Azza Transport from operating within the United Arab Emirates immediately following the accident.
Maintenance Oversight Review
The investigation highlighted the need for more rigorous safety oversight by the Sudanese Civil Aviation Authority regarding operator maintenance and quality management systems.