Expert: D. Norkus - 4/23/2009

Question
relocated that fire handle ref. on airdisaster.com korean air lines 2033 cvr transcript the pilot lands but co grabs controls & pulls up. cap:why did u pull us off?e had full reverse on.pull the fire handles.pull em. dottie, i don't think there was a fire on board. what did he mean? thanx.

Answer
Kathleen

Re:
http://www.airdisaster.com/cvr/kal2033.shtml
Korean 2033 and the fire handle comment:

During an emergency situation when an evacuation is imminent, it is a common emergency checklist item to "pull the fire handles" on all engines. This is done to cut off the fuel flow and be sure that the engines are shut down so as not to create a hazard to the passengers who may be making an emergency egress out of the aircraft and around the wing and engine area.

There was an obvious power struggle between the pilots in this situation. The First Officer was correct in that they should have gone around but trying to do so after touchdown was not going to make for a safe situation regardless: The aircraft landed "5,816 ft/1,773 meters beyond the runway threshold. The aircraft couldn't be stopped on the remaining 4,025ft/1,227 meters of runway and overran at a speed of 104 knots. After striking the airport wall and a guard post at 30 knots, the aircraft burst into flames and was incinerated." Hence the captain calling for the pulling of the fire handles as part of the emergency evacuation checklist.

While AirDisaster.net has some good information, I prefer aviation-safety.net.

Dottie