Incident Overview

Date: Thursday 26 June 2003
Aircraft Type: Boeing 777-236ER
Owner/operator: British Airways
Registration Number: G-VIIA
Location: Near Reigate, Surrey – ÿ United Kingdom
Phase of Flight: Initial climb
Status: Substantial
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 286
Component Affected: Access door, cabin windows, fuselage, and fin.Access door, cabin windows, fuselage, and fin.
Investigating Agency: AAIBAAIB
Category: Accident
On June 26, 2003, a Boeing 777-236ER G-VIIA operated by British Airways experienced a significant damage incident at Reigate Airport, following takeoff from Gatwick Airport, bound for Antigua. The aircraft sustained damage including a detached access door, damaged cabin windows, and minor damage to the fuselage and fin. No injuries were reported to the 286 passengers. Investigation revealed that the access door detached due to aerodynamic forces resulting from acceleration, likely due to a faulty latch and overloading. The maintenance check, involving a deviation from standard procedures, contributed to the issue.On June 26, 2003, a Boeing 777-236ER G-VIIA operated by British Airways experienced a significant damage incident at Reigate Airport, following takeoff from Gatwick Airport, bound for Antigua. The aircraft sustained damage including a detached access door, damaged cabin windows, and minor damage to the fuselage and fin. No injuries were reported to the 286 passengers. Investigation revealed that the access door detached due to aerodynamic forces resulting from acceleration, likely due to a faulty latch and overloading. The maintenance check, involving a deviation from standard procedures, contributed to the issue.

Description

Over (or near) Reigate, Surrey, during the initial climbout from London Gatwick Airport, bound for V.C.Bird International Airport, St. Johns, Antigua, Boeing 777-236ER G-VIIA of British Airways sustained the following damage on 26-06-2003: Access door detached, cabin windows damaged, minor damage to fuselage and fin. No injuries reported to the 286 persons on board (crew of 14 plus 272 passengers). According to the following excerpt from the official AAIB report into the accident: “A large access door, measuring 4 x 6 feet and weighing 70 lb, detached from the aircraft shortly after takeoff from Gatwick Airport, causing substantial damage to two cabin windows and minor damage to the fuselage and fin. Fragments of the door penetrated into the cabin and large parts of it landed close to persons on the ground. It was likely that only one of the thirteen door catches had been fastened and that the door had suffered overload failure due to aerodynamic forces as the aircraft accelerated, allowing it to open and detach. Multiple walk-round inspections of the aircraft by different personnel had failed to detect the open catches. The inadequate fastening had apparently occurred during a routine maintenance check due to a deviation from standard procedures; a practice that reportedly had been fostered by features of the maintenance system and may have been commonplace. It appeared likely that the human performance factors evident in this event could be affected beneficially by improvements in the operator?s maintenance and inspection systems.”

Source of Information

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5422f255ed915d13740003ef/G-VIIA_3-05.pdf, https://siteapps.caa.co.uk/g-info/rk=VIIA, https://www.planespotters.net/airframe/Boeing/777/27483/G-VIIA-British-Airways, http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-b777-27483.htm, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ABritish_Airways_Boeing_777-236(ER)_G-VIIA_(14390367715).jpghttps://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5422f255ed915d13740003ef/G-VIIA_3-05.pdf, https://siteapps.caa.co.uk/g-info/rk=VIIA, https://www.planespotters.net/airframe/Boeing/777/27483/G-VIIA-British-Airways, http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-b777-27483.htm, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ABritish_Airways_Boeing_777-236(ER)_G-VIIA_(14390367715).jpg

Primary Cause

Aerodynamic overloading due to acceleration of the aircraft.Aerodynamic overloading due to acceleration of the aircraft.

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