Incident Overview

Date: Friday 20 April 2012
Aircraft Type: Boeing 737-236A
Owner/operator: Bhoja Airlines
Registration Number: AP-BKC
Location: 4,2 km SE of Islamabad-Benazir Bhutto International Airport (ISB) – ÿ Pakistan
Phase of Flight: Approach
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 127 / Occupants: 127
Component Affected: Boeing 737-200 aircraft, specifically the cockpit flight control system, autopilot, and flight management system.Boeing 737-200 aircraft, specifically the cockpit flight control system, autopilot, and flight management system.
Investigating Agency: PakCAAPakCAA
Category: Accident
On October 21, 2023, Bhoja Airlines Flight 213, a Boeing 737-200, crashed shortly after takeoff from Islamabad International Airport, Pakistan, resulting in the loss of all 127 passengers and crew. The aircraft encountered severe windshear while on approach, triggering a cascade of events leading to a catastrophic outcome. The pilot initiated a descent to FL200, but the weather conditions deteriorated rapidly, culminating in a significant storm. The captain and first officer, recognizing the potential for further complications, initiated a discussion about the storm’s severity. The aircraft then entered the active weather cell, experiencing precipitation and wind shear. The pilot, attempting to maintain the glide slope, increased speed, which was subsequently exacerbated by windshear. The aircraft’s control systems failed, leading to a loss of control and a significant deviation from the planned flight path. The autopilot disconnected, and the aircraft descended rapidly, triggering an ILS activation. The pilot?s subsequent actions, including a nose-up input and a lack of proper recovery procedures, contributed to the accident. The aircraft then struck a steep terrace, causing substantial structural damage. The automated flight deck management system’s failure, stemming from inadequate pilot experience, training, and the absence of sufficient monitoring, played a critical role in the accident.On October 21, 2023, Bhoja Airlines Flight 213, a Boeing 737-200, crashed shortly after takeoff from Islamabad International Airport, Pakistan, resulting in the loss of all 127 passengers and crew. The aircraft encountered severe windshear while on approach, triggering a cascade of events leading to a catastrophic outcome. The pilot initiated a descent to FL200, but the weather conditions deteriorated rapidly, culminating in a significant storm. The captain and first officer, recognizing the potential for further complications, initiated a discussion about the storm’s severity. The aircraft then entered the active weather cell, experiencing precipitation and wind shear. The pilot, attempting to maintain the glide slope, increased speed, which was subsequently exacerbated by windshear. The aircraft’s control systems failed, leading to a loss of control and a significant deviation from the planned flight path. The autopilot disconnected, and the aircraft descended rapidly, triggering an ILS activation. The pilot?s subsequent actions, including a nose-up input and a lack of proper recovery procedures, contributed to the accident. The aircraft then struck a steep terrace, causing substantial structural damage. The automated flight deck management system’s failure, stemming from inadequate pilot experience, training, and the absence of sufficient monitoring, played a critical role in the accident.

Description

Bhoja Airlines flight 213, a Boeing 737-200, crashed after encountering windshear while on approach to Islamabad Airport, Pakistan, killing all 127 occupants. Bhoja Airlines flight B4213 departed Karachi (KHI) at 17:05 on a domestic flight to Islamabad (ISB). This was the inaugural evening flight for the airline on this route. The flight climbed to a cruising altitude of FL310 and continued towards Islamabad. Weather at the destination was poor due to a passing thunderstorm. At 18:19 the captain at a distance observed the squall line. Moments later the flight was cleared to descend to FL200. During the descent the captain and first officer discussed the weather. They were worried about the severity of the thunderstorm ahead. At 18:26 the first officer contacted Islamabad Approach and received clearance for the One Foxtrot arrival for an ILS approach to runway 30. After receiving further descent clearance the first officer discussed opportunities to approach the airfield through a gap in the squall line. The Approach controller gave radar vectors and descent instructions to fly through the gap in the storm. At 18:35, Islamabad Approach gave a weather update and said “Bhoja 213 surface wind at Islamabad ah is varying between 180ø to 270ø, 10 kts and ah sometimes gusting to 20 kts and runway condition is wet, light drizzle is ah uhm going on, braking action not known”. Two minutes later the airplane entered the squall line. Although the Bhoja Air Operational Manual prohibited flight in these conditions, the captain decided to continue. The airplane was configured for the approach with flaps and slats selected and the undercarriage was down. The first officer then reported the speed to be 220 knots, which was 30 knots higher than the recommended speed. The captain reacted surprised as he did not expect this because the he was flying with the auto-throttle engaged. Likely the increase in speed was a result of windshear. The aircraft then entered the active weather cell with precipitation continuing in varying intensity. At 18:39 the airplane captured the ILS and descended on the glide slope. At this point the aircraft should have been in landing configuration with flaps at 30ø. However, only flaps 5 were selected. The aircraft then encountered an increasing downdraft. The pitch attitude increased and computed airspeed decreased as the autopilot attempted to maintain the glide slope. The GPWS consequently sounded with the aural alarm: “Wind shear – Wind shear – Wind shear”. Although the first officer anxiously called for a go around, no action was taken. The downdraft dissipated and the pitch attitude decreased but the aircraft deviated left of the extended runway centerline, and was brought back by the captain. At that moment the autopilot disconnected due to the aircraft deviation beyond the autopilot maximum authority limits. The auto throttle remained engaged in IAS speed mode. Following autopilot disconnect, there was no control wheel activity recorded for approximately 6 seconds and no control column activity for approximately 8 seconds. The crew were likely confused. During this period of control inactivity, the aircraft deviated below the glide slope. Then the Terrain Awareness Warning System (TAWS) alarm sounded: “Whoop, Whoop, Whoop”. No action was taken by either crew member. A few seconds later the aircraft entered another downdraft and the rate of descent increased rapidly. The TAWS alarm sounded again, directing the crew to “pull up”. The captain responded with a nose-up column input. However, pressure altitude and thrust continued to decrease. The downdraft dissipated rapidly, resulting in a rapid increase in angle of attack of the aircraft, which activated the stick shaker for almost 2 seconds. It appeared that captain lowered the nose down to get out of stick shaker regime however, proper and complete Boeing recommended stall and recovery procedures were not carried out. This resulted in a 12ø nose down pitch. Then another windshear alarm sounded, followed by another stick shaker activation. The first officer shouted to “get out” and “go around” but the attempts by the captain failed as he did not apply the proper procedures to execute a go around. Shortly after initial ground contact, the aircraft struck a steeply sloped terrace about 5 meters high which resulted in significant structural breakup of the aircraft structure. The ineffective automated flight deck management in extreme adverse weather conditions by cockpit crew caused the accident. The ineffective automated flight deck management was due to various factors including; incorrect selection of cockpit crew on account of their inadequate flying experience, training and competence level for Boeing 737-236A (advanced version of Boeing 737-200 series), absence of formal simulator training in respect of FO for handling an automated flight deck, non-existence of cockpit crew professional competence / skill level monitoring system at operator level (Bhoja Air). The cockpit crew incorrect decision to continue the flight for destination and non-adherence to Boeing recommended QRH and FCOM remedial actions /procedures due to non-availability of customized aircraft documents (at Bhoja Air) for Boeing 737-236A (advanced version of Boeing 737-200 series) contributed towards the causation of accident. The inability of CAA Pakistan to ensure automated flight deck variance type training and monitoring requirements primarily due to incorrect information provided by the Bhoja Air Management was also a contributory factor in causation of the accident.

Source of Information

http://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/B732,_vicinity_Islamabad_Pakistan,_2012http://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/B732,_vicinity_Islamabad_Pakistan,_2012

Primary Cause

Inadequate pilot training and oversight, particularly concerning Boeing 737-236A (advanced version) flight operations and the lack of comprehensive FO training, combined with the absence of proper monitoring and control systems within Bhoja Air, exacerbated the conditions and led to the loss of control and the resulting structural breakup.Inadequate pilot training and oversight, particularly concerning Boeing 737-236A (advanced version) flight operations and the lack of comprehensive FO training, combined with the absence of proper monitoring and control systems within Bhoja Air, exacerbated the conditions and led to the loss of control and the resulting structural breakup.

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