Incident Overview

Date: Thursday 4 August 1983
Aircraft Type: Boeing 747-121
Owner/operator: Pan American World Airways (Pan Am)
Registration Number: N738PA
Location: Karachi International Airport (KHI) – ÿ Pakistan
Phase of Flight: Landing
Status: Substantial, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 243
Component Affected: Engine No.4Engine No.4
Category: Accident
On August 4, 1983, Pan American World Airways Flight PA 073, a Boeing 747-100 (N 738 PA) experienced a serious landing accident at Karachi International Airport (KHI) due to a loss of directional control. The aircraft was cleared to land on runway 25R, but experienced a critical issue with reverse thrust application on engine No.4, leading to a significant loss of control. The pilot, flying as co-pilot, initiated reverse power reduction and subsequently lost control, resulting in a series of events including a left-side veering, rapid deceleration, and a collision with a VASI light installation. The impact caused extensive damage to the aircraft, including the destruction of the VASI light installation, cargo hold damage, and damage to the first-class section and stairway. The incident was attributed to a loss of directional control caused by inadvertant application of forward thrust on engine No.4 during the landing roll, compounded by inadequate monitoring of engine performance and failure to adhere to established procedures.On August 4, 1983, Pan American World Airways Flight PA 073, a Boeing 747-100 (N 738 PA) experienced a serious landing accident at Karachi International Airport (KHI) due to a loss of directional control. The aircraft was cleared to land on runway 25R, but experienced a critical issue with reverse thrust application on engine No.4, leading to a significant loss of control. The pilot, flying as co-pilot, initiated reverse power reduction and subsequently lost control, resulting in a series of events including a left-side veering, rapid deceleration, and a collision with a VASI light installation. The impact caused extensive damage to the aircraft, including the destruction of the VASI light installation, cargo hold damage, and damage to the first-class section and stairway. The incident was attributed to a loss of directional control caused by inadvertant application of forward thrust on engine No.4 during the landing roll, compounded by inadequate monitoring of engine performance and failure to adhere to established procedures.

Description

PanAm Flight PA073 was cleared to land at runway 25R of Karachi International Airport (KHI), Pakistan. The approach speed just prior to touch down was 152 knots. After touch down reverse thrust was applied on engines No.1, 2 and 3. Engine No.4 which had an unserviceable reverser was left in forward idle. Seventy knots was called and some three seconds later reverse power was decreased. At this stage EPR on No.4 engine increased rapidly. The aircraft veered to the left of the center line at about 7400 feet from the approach end of runway 25R and departed the runway edge at 8000 feet from the approach end of runway 25R with 2500 feet of runway remaining. Shortly before the aircraft departed the runway, the pilot flying (co-pilot) reported that he had no brakes and no nose wheel steering. The captain stated that he got on the brakes and tiller at this time to assist. After departing the runway surface the aircraft travelled 380 feet through soft mud before it came to rest at a point about 2100 feet from the end of runway 25R, heading about 160 degrees on the Southern side of the runway with the tail of the aircraft 120 feet from the runway edge. Shortly after the aircraft departed the runway, the nose gear struck a VASI light installation and its concrete base causing the nose gear to collapse backwards and to the left, resulting in total destruction of the VASI light installation and damage to the forward cargo hold, floor of the first class section and the stairway leading to the upper deck. Damage to the aircraft was substantial. PROBABLE CAUSE: “The Civil Aviation Authority, Pakistan determines that the probable cause of the landing accident on runway 25R at Karachi International Airport at 0438 hours (Pakistan Standard Time) on 4th August 1983, to Pan American World Airways Flight PA 073,Boeing 747-100 Registration N 738 PA, was loss of directional control as the result of inadvertant application of forward thrust on No.4 engine at the time the pilot flying was coming out of reverse thrust on engines No.1, 2 and 3 during the landing roll, and subsequent failure of the crew to recognize the assymetric power condition. Contributing were failure of the crew to monitor the engines, and failure to follow specified procedures during the landing.”

Primary Cause

Inadvertant application of forward thrust on engine No.4 during the landing roll, compounded by inadequate monitoring of engine performance and failure to follow established procedures.Inadvertant application of forward thrust on engine No.4 during the landing roll, compounded by inadequate monitoring of engine performance and failure to follow established procedures.

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