Aircraft
Flight 3054 was an Airbus A320-233 serial number 789, registration PR-MBK, powered by two International Aero V2527E-A5 turbofan engines. According to Flight International, the aircraft was built in February 1998 and first entered service in March flying for Grupo TACA and later in November 2003 by Pacific Airlines. The aircraft was owned by Pegasus Aviation before it was delivered to TAM in December 2006. As of April 20, 2007, the aircraft had flown 20,379 hours over 9,313 cycles.
The aircraft was dispatched with the thrust reverser (a mechanical device to help slow the airplane down on landing) on the number 2 (right-side) engine deactivated, as it had jammed. TAM said in a statement that a fault in a reverser "does not jeopardize landings." In the same statement TAM also said "no mechanical problem had been recorded on July 16 (the day before the accident)." It was reported that the plane had no difficulty braking on the same runway one day prior to the fatal accident. The inactivated thrust reverser on the number 2 engine was confirmed by Airbus on July 25.
Read more about this topic: TAM Airlines Flight 3054