UPDATE ON INVESTIGATION OF UNITED AIRLINES FLIGHT 42 DUAL ENGINE ROLL BACK

The aircraft's Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR) were delivered to the National Transportation Safety Board laboratory in Washington D.C. The CVR contained no information relevant to this incident. The initial readout of the FDR indicates that, while climbing through 29,000 feet, the right engine experienced a reduction in power to below idle but did not completely stop operating. About 20 seconds later, the left engine experienced a similar reduction in power. The reduction of power occurred as the crew attempted to rectify an imbalance in the fuel load. Approximately 20 seconds after the power reduction in the second engine, the FDR stopped recording data for a period of time no greater than half a minute. When the FDR began recording again, the power of both engines was increasing. The engines returned to normal power shortly thereafter; data shows that neither engine experienced a total loss of power.

Based on current information, there is no indication that the airplane, its engines, or systems malfunctioned. Since the engine roll back occurred during a fuel transfer procedure, United Airlines, Boeing, and the NTSB are evaluating operational procedures and the operating characteristics of the engines and fuel system.

Media Contact: Lauren Peduzzi (202) 314-6100