A400M probe focuses on impact of accidental data wipe

A tiny piece of data needed to run the West's largest turboprop engines is at the centre of a complex chain of events under scrutiny following an Airbus  A400M military plane crash last month, several people familiar with the matter said. 

The troop and cargo carrier crashed outside Seville, Spain, on May 9 after three of its huge turboprop engines froze just minutes into a routine, pre-delivery test flight, killing four of its six crew members. 

At the heart of the investigation are crucial computer files that tell Europe's new military carrier, developed at a cost of 20 billion euros ($22.50-billion), how to control its four engines, people familiar with the matter told Reuters. 

Computers operating each engine cannot work if this data, which is unique to each of the turboprops, is missing. 

Investigations are at an early stage but the key scenario being examined is that the data -- known as "torque calibration parameters" -- was accidentally wiped on three engines as the engine software was being installed at Airbus facilities. 

An Airbus spokeswoman said the investigation was continuing and it was too early draw conclusions. 

"Safety is our first priority and we will do all that is necessary to get the full picture of what could have led to this tragic accident and take the necessary action," she said, declining comment on any of the points in this article. 

European NATO buyers have now been instructed not to use the Airbus computer system that was used to conduct the software  installation on the A400M, people familiar with the order said. 

Investigators are poring over maintenance records to see how safety procedures failed to notice the erased parameters. 

But the combination of...