Incident Overview

Date: Wednesday 19 July 1972
Aircraft Type: BAC One-Eleven 501EX
Owner/operator: British Caledonian Airways
Registration Number: G-AWYS
Location: Kerkyra Airport (CFU) – ÿ Greece
Phase of Flight: Take off
Status: Substantial, repaired
Casualties: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 85
Component Affected: Aircraft EngineAircraft Engine
Investigating Agency: CAA GreeceCAA Greece
Category: Accident
A BAC One-Eleven G-AWYS experienced a near-miss incident due to a sudden water entry during takeoff. The pilot, anticipating an engine failure, initiated a rapid abort of takeoff, resulting in the aircraft running off the runway and coming to rest in a lagoon. An elderly passenger tragically perished during transport to hospital.A BAC One-Eleven G-AWYS experienced a near-miss incident due to a sudden water entry during takeoff. The pilot, anticipating an engine failure, initiated a rapid abort of takeoff, resulting in the aircraft running off the runway and coming to rest in a lagoon. An elderly passenger tragically perished during transport to hospital.

Description

BAC One-Eleven G-AWYS was speeding down the runway when it ran through a pool of standing water. The captain thought the no. 1 engine had failed and rejected the takeoff close to decision speed. The airplane overran the runway onto rough ground and came to rest in a nearby lagoon in about 1 metre depth. An elderly lady died of a heart attack whilst being taken to hospital. PROBABLE CAUSE: “The accident sequence originated when the aircraft ran into a pool of standing water at a speed very close to V1 causing a temporary reduction of engine thrust from water ingestion and a momentary loss of aircraft acceleration. This situation, apparently, delayed the crew’s identification of their problems and the initiation of action to abandon the takeoff was taken about 3 seconds too late for the aircraft to be stopped within the runway distance remaining.”

Primary Cause

Sudden water entry during takeoff, leading to a temporary reduction in engine thrust and loss of acceleration, delaying the crew’s identification of the problem and abandonment of the takeoff.Sudden water entry during takeoff, leading to a temporary reduction in engine thrust and loss of acceleration, delaying the crew’s identification of the problem and abandonment of the takeoff.

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