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Chapter Thirty Seven
"What's up?"
Fucheng recovered and handed the information book to Zhuo Huan. "Lina and I have conducted detailed interviews with the family of the captain Kyle, as well as the relevant personnel of the airline and the airport. The final result, I think Mr. Zhuo, you should take a look."
Zhuo Huan took the thick folder and turned it over.
Fucheng: "The character of Captain Kyle seems to be very strong and stubborn, and he had a dispute with Deputy Captain Tim before that. It was an unpleasant experience. According to witnesses, it was almost Kyle alone. Reprimanded Tim. I think this will definitely affect the communication between the two pilots."
Zhuo Huan frowned slightly, his eyes quickly swept across the information book. Finally he raised his head and looked at Fucheng: "What is your judgment."
Fucheng looked at him with firm eyes: "Investigate the relationship between the two pilots in detail."
"good."
Soon, Zhuo Huan convened a meeting to gather all investigators from UAAG and NTSB. He briefly explained his intentions, and then said to Lowens: "Kyle and Tim only flew together three times, but someone saw it the second time. They had a dispute. I doubt that the crew can communicate well. ."
Lowens also realized the seriousness of the matter: "Patrick, what do you want to do."
Zhuo Huan didn't speak, he looked at Fucheng.
Fucheng understood it, and said: "Of course the third time cannot be verified, but since Kyle and Tim have worked together twice, then we can start with the first two. I suggest to find out all the two who have been in contact with them. People’s pilots, flight attendants, and other related personnel, especially all the crews on the plane during their first two cooperation. Kyle and Tim can’t tell us how they are related, but someone will know that these two What happened between individuals."
Without further ado, everyone acted immediately.
Kyle Schulman has served in American Airlines for many years. He knows a lot of pilots, and he has worked with countless pilots. Just finding all the relevant people who are familiar with him is an extremely laborious task. Fortunately, the NTSB contacted American Airlines, and American Airlines directly inquired relevant personnel from within, which greatly reduced the manpower and material resources of the investigation headquarters.
A week later, all the crew members who had worked with Kyle and Tim were found.
Early that morning, Fucheng and Lina took a plane and flew to Washington. American Airlines gathered the relevant pilots, flight attendants, and ground crews at the American Airlines Washington branch, and the two had a full day to question these people.
The first person to be questioned was the other captain on the same plane during the first cooperative flight between Kyle and Tim.
"On March 29, 2020, Mr. Shulman, Tim, and I flew a plane together from New York to the Chinese capital. This kind of transoceanic flight takes a long time, so there are a total of Three pilots. Mr. Shulman is the captain, and Tim and I are the deputy captains."
Fucheng asked: "From Washington to the capital of China, it takes about 20 hours of flying time. In such a long time, I would like to ask, do you have anything impressive? Especially about Captain Kyle. And Tim's."
The pilot thought about it for a long time, and he apologized: "Sorry, it’s already ten months ago. I really don’t remember. There shouldn’t be anything particularly impressive along the way. We are Flying normally. If you have to say something, everyone in American Airlines knows that Mr. Schulman’s driving skills are very superb. Tim and I are both young pilots with very junior qualifications, but Mr. Schulman is on the way. All are very safe."
Fucheng: "Did the two of them have any disputes, or any unpleasant experiences?"
"This is absolutely nothing! Mr. Shulman has won many outstanding captain medals and blue sky medals, and we all respect him. How could Tim and I have a dispute with Mr. Shulman, this is absolutely impossible."
The pilot's forceful retort made Fucheng and Lina look at each other. Lina lowered her head and wrote a comment on the information booklet.
Kyle and Tim’s second cooperation was a domestic flight in the United States. So unfortunately, only two pilots were needed for that flight. There are always only two of them in the cockpit, and no one knows what happened.
Fucheng frowned: "The second time, it is said that Kyle scolded Tim before the flight. There were only two people in the cockpit... It's a pity."
Lina thought for a moment, and said: "There may not be no way."
Fucheng looked at her.
Lina smiled slightly. She notified the American Airlines staff and called the ground crew who was in charge of checking the aircraft.
This is a slightly blessed middle-aged man. When asked "What is your special impression about that routine examination", he hardly thought about it and said: "I have an impression."
Fucheng's eyes lit up: "What happened?"
The man said: "That's it. At that time, a few colleagues and I were in charge of inspecting the Airbus A390. We calculated the fuel level based on the mileage. Tim and I are familiar with each other. He also checked our ground maintenance. After confirming the fuel quantity, he went to report to Captain Schulman. But soon he came back and told me that the fuel quantity should be reduced by one ton."
In fact, for any aircraft, each time they fly, they need to calculate the amount of fuel based on the length of the journey, and then refuel.
An airplane is not a car, and it cannot be "filled up" casually.
Fuel has weight, and every ton of fuel will cause huge cost consumption. The aircraft's fuel is all concentrated in the central fuel tank and the mailboxes on the left and right wings. Every additional ton adds countless flying costs. Besides, sometimes on long-distance flights, even if the fuel tank is fully filled, it is not enough to fly. For example, the planes flying from New York to Huaguo Shencheng often have to stop in Japan or South Korea halfway, refuel once, and then continue flying.
Fucheng thought for a while: "You counted more oil?"
The ground crew showed a strange expression: "Even if I did the calculation wrong, Tim will not make a mistake together. We did not calculate it wrong, but we took into account the weather report in Los Angeles that day that there might be thunderstorms, so we added more than usual. One ton of oil. In this way, if the weather is bad and the landing is not good, it can also ensure that the aircraft can hover in the air for a period of time, or there is enough fuel to fly to other airports to land. This is a very common thing in airlines. But Shulman Mr. said..."
Learning the tone of the cold captain in his memory, the middle-aged man sternly said with a sneer: "Idiot, don't you even have the basic skills to land in a thunderstorm? This time I am here to fly the plane. I don't need much. Count this ton of oil!"
The hand holding the pen paused slightly, and Fucheng looked at the ground crew seriously, with a serious tone: "Are you sure this sentence is the captain's original words? Did Tim tell you?"
"Of course it was the original words, but it was not what Tim said. When he came to let me add a ton of fuel, his face didn't look good. So afterwards, after they took off, I went to ask a colleague who worked in the engine room. , I learned about it. Yeah, that’s Captain Shulman. He has never made any mistakes. There has never been any delay in the plane he piloted!"
Fucheng's voice is low: "Thank you, do you have anything else to add?"
"Actually... I still have something to say. I have heard people say that Tim has always wanted to switch models. Although I haven't heard him say the reason, it must be because he doesn't want to be on duty with Shulman anymore. Now! This gentleman does have enough superb skills, but he is definitely not a good captain. Maybe you don’t know, and nobody told you that Mr. Schulman has a nickname inside American Airlines—"
"Bismarck of American Airlines!"
"Any pilot who flew with him, you can ask, although they don't say, but deep down in their hearts, they definitely don't want to fly with him a second time!"
Hearing this, Fucheng's eyes narrowed. He stood up and stretched out his hand: "Okay, Mr. Norrence, thank you very much for your help."
Norrence stood up and reached out to shake it back. He just opened his mouth, but choked a little, so he closed his mouth. With a long sigh, he said sadly: "Bismarck, this nickname always reminds people of bad things. It's not the first time it happened. Why does it happen again? Why is it so pitiful? Harrison."
Fucheng grasped the key words, he looked at the ground staff in shock, and suddenly some pictures flashed in his mind.
Aside, Lina asked keenly: "Wait a minute, I would like to ask, what is the second time? Can you elaborate on it."
On the other side, the Boston Investigation Headquarters.
Zhuo Huan, Lovins, and Joseph Sr. conducted the final inspection of the American Airlines 4012's telex system. They removed the digital sensors of the aircraft and connected them to the external instruments. After conducting the experimental test, Lowens sighed and looked at Zhuo Huan: "Patrick, this is the last thing. There are no questions. I think it's time to announce the answer."
Zhuo Huan looked at the digital sensor in front of him intently, and did not speak for a long time.
Lowens also felt very uncomfortable in his heart, but he knew that after they had conducted nearly two months of investigation and finally found that the aircraft had no mechanical failures, there were only two reasons for the crash.
The first is that the pilot is negligent.
The second is that the possibility is minimal, and there is a mechanical failure that has not been discovered by them.
There is no doubt that the pilot’s default, almost certainly, was the final cause of the crash.
Lovins joked and enlivened the atmosphere: "It's really strange. The several air crashes of American Airlines over the years seem to be related to the pilot's negligence. For example, American Airlines 3157 that crashed into the Great Salt Lake 24 years ago, or ...Uh, I'm sorry, old Joseph, I shouldn't mention your sadness. I just wanted to make a joke."
In the usual way, the old Joseph always greeted others with a smile, and was very kind. He especially liked to make jokes, so he should have laughed. But this time he stared at Lovins closely, and his stiff lips moved slowly: "Lovins, this is not a joke."
"……sorry."
Zhuo Huan said: "You should also say sorry to American Airlines 3157. Last week, you said that the accident is likely to be a servo valve failure, and now you say that it was the pilot's default."
Lowens: "..."
"Sorry, I said the wrong thing. Okay. But there is no doubt about one thing now, that is, we should determine the cause. Don't worry about American Airlines 3157 24 years ago, and don't worry about your old Joseph. That American Airlines 384 accident. Today's American Airlines 4012, it is true, it has not detected any mechanical failure. So... we should determine the cause of the accident for it."
Zhuo Huan frowned, and said displeased: "I'm not sure yet..."
"what!!!"
A sharp scream suddenly interrupted Zhuo Huan's words, and the three of them turned their heads together and looked at the door of the investigation headquarters.
When he saw the middle-aged woman standing in the doorway, the old Joseph's body froze instantly. It was a haggard and thin woman with a small women's handbag in her arm. Obviously, the makeup was done carefully, but the delicate makeup still couldn't conceal her tired eyes from insomnia for many days.
The blood on his face disappeared in an instant.
Mrs. Harrison trembled her lips, her eyes widened, and she stared in the direction of the three of them. The next moment, she suddenly rushed up and raised her bag furiously, like an angry beast, roaring from her throat, she slammed the old Joseph fiercely.
At the same time, Washington, American Airlines Division.
Ground crew Norrence sighed: "Actually, 17 years ago, when Schulman had not entered American Airlines, we also had a captain nicknamed Bismarck in our company. He also possessed extremely superb flying skills, but His temper is like the hardest stubborn stone in the depths of hell, unsmiling, and always so unkind."
"—Sense, technology, and experience. These are the three elements of a pilot. Feelings are just a useless burden. If you don't even have the courage to face difficulties, then you are not worthy to be a pilot."
"This is his motto. Many pilots who have worked with him dare not resist him a little bit, because he is always right. It will only be you who are wrong, and it will only be yourself who is stupid and untalented."
Fucheng's lips moved, he already knew the answer, but he didn't want to say that name.
Lina doesn't know the truth, as she once said, she respects the sex of each member. She asked seriously: "What is the name of this pilot you are talking about?"
"On January 17, 2003, American Airlines Flight 384 accident, due to poor weather, the deputy captain made a visual approach and made a control error, and the aircraft crashed on the lawn next to the runway. Deputy Captain Michael Harrison Died on the spot...that is, Tim's father."
"The captain on board at the time was called American Airlines Bismarck, Hard Joseph."