The Status of N113UW-Any News?

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Member for

9 years 3 months

Posts: 3

Hello aviation talkers!

I just want to know the possible fate or future of the US Airways Airbus A320-214, N113UW. She sits on the tarmac outside a hangar at Philadelphia International Airport. This plane suffered substantial damage in an aborted takeoff incident on March 13, 2014. Based on the photographs, the frame looks pretty intact. The damage looks repairable. Will this bird be repaired by US Airways and Airbus and eventually return to the skies? or it will be written off, dismantled on site and eventually scrapped?

Original post

Member for

15 years 9 months

Posts: 652

It could have major damaged that's not visible having suffered the nose gear collapse.

Sometimes repairable airframes are written of as the repairs are deemed un economic due to airframe age or perhaps if the aircraft was due to be retired sometime in which case it's more use as spares. The 747 of BA at Jo'burg could have been repaired but it would have been costly and the type is on phase out.

I think if this aircraft was repairable or at least worth repairing, it would have been done. But the reality is this is an oldish aeroplane and airlines are still storing fleet members as there is not work for all the fleet. Perhaps it will be repaired, but doesn't look like it given the time since the incident.

Basically if they needed it they would have sorted it.

Member for

20 years 5 months

Posts: 10,625

I'm with Garry on this.

The only other possibility I could suggest would be an insurance issue. Some haggling going on about payments or something, meaning the plane cannot be touched until the matter is resolved. Has happened before, and yes, even with large companies. It just takes a small irregularity in the paperwork of the aircraft and the insurance will be trying to invalidate it's cover and thus save themselves a few bucks.

Much like our car insurance companies do to us!

Member for

9 years 3 months

Posts: 3

It's been nine months since that incident. I believe the NTSB and FAA Investigation is still ongoing so the American investigators and authorities have temporarily grounded it for inspections. I assume it will be released for repair some time in 2015.

Member for

9 years 3 months

Posts: 3

What about the NTSB investigation? Is it still ongoing? Have they leased the a/c for repair?