Incident Overview

Date: Tuesday 10 October 2000
Aircraft Type: Boeing 767-304ER
Owner/operator: Britannia Airways
Registration Number: G-OBYA
Location: Runway 26L, London-Gatwick Airport, Horley, Surrey – ÿ United Kingdom
Phase of Flight: Approach
Status: Substantial
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 165
Component Affected: Landing Gear Wheels (Left and Right)Landing Gear Wheels (Left and Right)
Investigating Agency: AAIBAAIB
Category: Accident
On landing at London Gatwick Airport, a two-sector flight to Abu Dhabi via Manchester, an aircraft experienced a sudden loss of control during a maneuvering turn. The commander observed a significant difference in surface conditions between the runway and the tarmac, leading to a ‘bucking’ motion and subsequent loss of movement. The aircraft subsequently executed emergency procedures, including braking, reversing thrust cancellation, flap deployment, and raising flaps. The pilot’s actions, combined with the unexpected surface conditions, resulted in the aircraft coming to rest with the left main landing gear in soft grass, approximately 10 meters from the edge of the western side of the second 26L RET ‘F’.On landing at London Gatwick Airport, a two-sector flight to Abu Dhabi via Manchester, an aircraft experienced a sudden loss of control during a maneuvering turn. The commander observed a significant difference in surface conditions between the runway and the tarmac, leading to a ‘bucking’ motion and subsequent loss of movement. The aircraft subsequently executed emergency procedures, including braking, reversing thrust cancellation, flap deployment, and raising flaps. The pilot’s actions, combined with the unexpected surface conditions, resulted in the aircraft coming to rest with the left main landing gear in soft grass, approximately 10 meters from the edge of the western side of the second 26L RET ‘F’.

Description

Damage 10-10-2000 to two main wheel tyres, left engine fan blades and left engine thrust reverser, when ran off the runway on landing at London Gatwick Airport. The crew, consisting of two flight deck and nine cabin crew, reported for duty at Manchester at 16:30 hours to operate a two sector flight to Abu Dhabi via London Gatwick. (Hence it being an “International Scheduled Passenger” flight). No injuries reported to the 165 persons on board (11 crew plus 154 passengers). According to the following excerpt from the official AAIB report into the accident: “During the manoeuvring turn and as the cockpit came over the RET centre line, the aircraft suddenly ‘bucked’ and stopped. The commander looked to his left and saw that the surface was lighter in colour than the tarmac he was expecting. He applied the brakes and immediately became aware that some of the landing gear wheels were not on the paved surface and that the aircraft could not move. He cancelled reverse thrust, stowed the speed brakes, and raised the flaps. The No 1 (left) engine was shut down and the APU started. The No 2 (right) engine was left running whilst the crew contacted their handling agents to organise a recovery. As soon as it became apparent that this would take some considerable time No 2 engine was shut down and passenger disembarkation was arranged. The passengers exited the aircraft into waiting coaches using mobile steps positioned at door Right 1. The operating crew remained on board for some 4 hours until the aircraft had been recovered and towed to the terminal. The ATC log indicated that the runway was re-opened for normal operations at 22:42 hours The aircraft had come to rest with the left main landing gear in soft grass approximately 10 metres from the edge of the western side of the second 26L RET ‘F’. The nose wheel and right main landing gear were on the hard surface of the RET”

Source of Information

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5422f4cd40f0b61346000581/dft_avsafety_pdf_501659.pdf, https://siteapps.caa.co.uk/g-info/rk=OBYA, https://www.planespotters.net/airframe/Boeing/767/28039/I-AIGJ-Meridiana, http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-b767-28039.htm, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ABoeing_767-304(ER)%2C_Britannia_Airways_JP6129938.jpghttps://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5422f4cd40f0b61346000581/dft_avsafety_pdf_501659.pdf, https://siteapps.caa.co.uk/g-info/rk=OBYA, https://www.planespotters.net/airframe/Boeing/767/28039/I-AIGJ-Meridiana, http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-b767-28039.htm, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ABoeing_767-304(ER)%2C_Britannia_Airways_JP6129938.jpg

Primary Cause

Maneuvering turn and unexpected surface condition mismatch during a critical maneuver.Maneuvering turn and unexpected surface condition mismatch during a critical maneuver.

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