Incident Overview

Date: Tuesday 11 October 1983
Aircraft Type: Boeing 747-249F
Owner/operator: Flying Tiger Line
Registration Number: N806FT
Location: Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) – ÿ Germany
Phase of Flight: Take off
Status: Substantial, repaired
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 6
Component Affected: Boeing 747 aircraft ? specifically the pallets and locks.Boeing 747 aircraft ? specifically the pallets and locks.
Category: Accident
A Boeing 747 aircraft experienced a significant incident during taxi to Amsterdam after an intermediate stop in Frankfurt. Three crew members, three passengers, and two pallets containing cargo were on board. A pallet detached and slid backwards, causing substantial damage to the aircraft. The rotation into a nose-up attitude was a result of a center-of-gravity shift, leading to the pilot rejecting the takeoff. The incident was attributed to a combination of factors including inadequate pallet securing, insufficient visual inspection of locks, pressure of time, lack of supervision, and communication difficulties.A Boeing 747 aircraft experienced a significant incident during taxi to Amsterdam after an intermediate stop in Frankfurt. Three crew members, three passengers, and two pallets containing cargo were on board. A pallet detached and slid backwards, causing substantial damage to the aircraft. The rotation into a nose-up attitude was a result of a center-of-gravity shift, leading to the pilot rejecting the takeoff. The incident was attributed to a combination of factors including inadequate pallet securing, insufficient visual inspection of locks, pressure of time, lack of supervision, and communication difficulties.

Description

After an intermediate stop in Frankfurt the Boeing 747 having arrived from New York taxied to runway 25R to depart to Amsterdam. Three crew members, three passengers, and two pallets with the cargo which had not been unloaded but was to be flown to its destination airport Amsterdam, were on board the cargo airplane. When starting the takeoff run the pallet on the right side detached and slid backwards causing substantial damage to the airplane. Due to the centre-of-gravity shift, the Boeing rotated into a nose-up attitude. The pilot-in-command rejected the takeoff run at a speed of about 70 kt. The airplane exited the runway to the left and came to rest between the runways. PROBABLE CAUSE: “Even though it has been shown by tests that the side locks if not correctly engaged, may open when the pallet is pushed sidewards, it must be assumed that the shifted pallet had not been secured. The simple design of the locks to restrain the pallets requires thorough visual inspection since the locks do not automatically take a definite open or locked position. Pressure of time, lack of supervision and non-adherence to operational procedures together with communication difficulties between the crew and the ramp service men led to a chain of unfortunate conditions. The necessary final checks concerning loading, in the end, were omitted or were conducted only superficially.”

Primary Cause

Insufficient pallet securing and inadequate visual inspection of locks.Insufficient pallet securing and inadequate visual inspection of locks.

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