AAIU Reports

SYNOPSIS

During the rotation for take-off (that is the point at which the nose wheel is lifted off the runway to assume a flying altitude) the aircraft ingested several racing pigeons into its No.1 engine causing serious damage to the engine, which resulted in a return to Dublin Airport on a single engine. The aircraft landed RWY 10 without further incident. The No.1 engine suffered serious bird strike damage. There were no injuries.

SYNOPSIS

The aircraft was operating a scheduled passenger flight from Dublin to Sligo.  The flight departed Dublin Airport (EIDW) at 16.05 hrs and carried out a Non-Directional Beacon/Distance Measuring Equipment (NDB/DME) approach to Runway (RWY) 11 at Sligo Airport.  The aircraft, according to the pilots and eyewitnesses, carried out a lower and faster approach than normal, due to gusty wind conditions, and touched down further along the runway than normal i.e. almost halfway down the runway.  The aircraft skidded along the runway and off at its end, coming to a halt with the nose section of the aircraft in the sea, with the main wheels resting on the edge of the embankment leading to the sea.  The passengers and crew evacuated through the rear portside passenger door, down fire service ladders, and were bussed to the terminal building. There was no aircraft fire or reported injuries.  The accident occurred at evening twilight.

SYNOPSIS

The aircraft was in the cruise, routing from Luton Airport (EGGW) in the UK, to Galway (EICM), when the RH engine spooled down and stopped. The crew made a PAN call to Shannon ATC. They initially considered diverting to Dublin (EIDW) or Belfast (EGAA) but these were closed due to fog. They then decided to divert to Shannon (EINN) and landed there safely on one engine. The Investigation subsequently found that the RH engine stopped because the fuel tank feeding this engine was empty. The Investigation makes six Safety Recommendations.

 SYNOPSIS

While carrying out a 180º turn (prior to take-off) at the eastern end of RWY 26 at Galway Airport, the nose landing gear (NLG) and the left-hand main landing gear (LH MLG) departed the paved surface, and the aircraft became embedded in soft grassy ground.  There were no reported injuries or damage to the aircraft.

SYNOPSIS 

Shannon Air Traffic Control (ATC) notified the Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) and an investigation team arrived in Shannon at 11.00 hrs on 11 March 1997.  The Director of Civil Aviation (DCA) Zimbabwe, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), USA and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Montreal, were notified on 13 March 1997. The AAIU team consisted of Mr Graham Liddy, Inspector-in-Charge, and Mr Frank Russell.

The aircraft had completed a refuelling stop at Shannon Airport and took off bound for Harare, Zimbabwe.  Immediately after take-off fire was detected in the No. 3 engine.  The fire was successfully extinguished and a number of other technical problems arose, necessitating two over-shoots.  The aircraft finally landed safely at Shannon. No. 3 engine had suffered considerable fire damage. The investigation found that this engine had suffered a similar fire 11 days before this event. The fire originated in a poor welding repair of the engine diffuser casing. This repair was completed some considerable time prior to the fire.

SYNOPSIS

Following a “BLEEDS OFF” take-off (See 1.2.2.2) from Runway (RWY) 25 at Reus Airport (LERS), Spain, the aircraft climbed to its cruising level of FL320 enroute to Dublin Airport (EIDW).  Shortly after becoming established in the cruise, the “Cabin Altitude (CAB ALT)” horn sounded.  Unable to control the cabin altitude rising further the Captain initiated an emergency descent.  During this descent, the flight crew discovered that the engine bleed switches were selected in the “OFF” position.  The aircraft diverted to Biarritz (LFBZ), in France, where it landed without further incident.