Overview
- Air India Flight 117’s ram air turbine deployed uncommanded on final approach to Birmingham on October 4, and the aircraft landed safely before returning to Delhi after checks.
- Boeing informed India’s regulator of 31 comparable 787 events worldwide, including 29 on jets without an upgraded shuttle valve.
- The suspected cause involves the RAT failing to lock if stowed while hydraulic pressure remains high, with 2015 guidance instructing technicians to hold the stow switch until pressure drops below 200 PSI.
- India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation opened a detailed investigation and requested a comprehensive report and global incident data from Boeing.
- Air India rechecked RAT stowage on 14 of 16 aircraft with recent maintenance, scheduled verification for two more, and reports show 19 of India’s 32 787s lack the valve upgrade.