Incident Overview

Date: Tuesday 14 September 1999
Aircraft Type: Dassault Falcon 900B
Owner/operator: Olympic Airways, lsf Elleniki Polemik¡ Aeropor¡a
Registration Number: SX-ECH
Location: FIR Bucharest – ÿ Romania
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Substantial, repaired
Casualties: Fatalities: 7 / Occupants: 13
Component Affected: Falcon 900B SX-ECH Aircraft ? Specifically, the autopilot system, the pitch channel, and the Arthur unit (likely relating to the pilot’s control input).Falcon 900B SX-ECH Aircraft ? Specifically, the autopilot system, the pitch channel, and the Arthur unit (likely relating to the pilot’s control input).
Investigating Agency: Romania MoTRomania MoT
Category: Accident
Narrative
On August 18, 2023, a Falcon 900B SX-ECH aircraft experienced a critical incident during a climb near Bucharest, Romania. The aircraft was operated by Olympic Airways and was on a scheduled flight to Bucharest. During the climb, the flight crew detected a ‘PITCH FEEL’ warning light, which rapidly increased to a point where the autopilot was engaged, resulting in continuous pitch oscillations. The aircraft then descended to FL150, experiencing a significant loss of control and a rapid change in airspeed and altitude. The pilot subsequently declared an emergency, requesting a final approach and landing, and the aircraft was recovered. The incident resulted in seven fatalities among passengers.On August 18, 2023, a Falcon 900B SX-ECH aircraft experienced a critical incident during a climb near Bucharest, Romania. The aircraft was operated by Olympic Airways and was on a scheduled flight to Bucharest. During the climb, the flight crew detected a ‘PITCH FEEL’ warning light, which rapidly increased to a point where the autopilot was engaged, resulting in continuous pitch oscillations. The aircraft then descended to FL150, experiencing a significant loss of control and a rapid change in airspeed and altitude. The pilot subsequently declared an emergency, requesting a final approach and landing, and the aircraft was recovered. The incident resulted in seven fatalities among passengers.

Description

Falcon 900B SX-ECH was owned by the Greek Air Force and operated by Olympic Airways. A Greek government delegation, a.o. minister in charge of European affairs, Yiannos Kranidiotis, were to visit Bucharest. Their plane departed Athens 18:16 UTC. During climb, after the flaps and slats were retracted, the flight crew noticed, on the warning panel, the “PITCH FEEL” light, was illuminated. The captain disengaged the autopilot, checked the forces on the control column and re-engaged the autopilot. The “PITCH FEEL” warning light, remained continuously ON, during cruise and descent until the slats were extended. The Falcon reached a cruising altitude of FL400 until 47 minutes from takeoff, when a normal descent to FL150 was initiated, with the autopilot engaged in vertical speed (V/S) mode. During descent the Indicated Air Speed (IAS) increased from 240 knots to 332 knots. Approaching FL150, the first officer had a request for a further descent. Just before FL150 the ATC recleared the flight to continue descent to FL50. One second later autopilot disengaged and thereafter the aircraft was manually flown by the captain. Between FL150 and FL140, for approximately 24 seconds, the aircraft experienced 10 oscillations in pitch axis which exceeded the limit manoeuvring load factor. Maximum recorded values were: +4.7 g and -3.26 g. During the event the thrust power was reduced. At about FL130, after aircraft recovery from the encountered oscillations, the first officer declared an emergency, saying: “We are in emergency sir, request vector to final approach. We have problems with the controls”. At the request of the flight crew, radar vectoring was provided by the ATC, and a visual approach and landing was performed on runway 08R. It appeared that the cabin interior had been completely destroyed, resulting in fatal injuries to seven passengers. CAUSAL FACTORS: 1. Inadequate risk assessments of the PITCH FEEL malfunctions. 2. Overriding of the A/P on the pitch channel by the crew. 3. Inappropriate inputs on the control column at high speed and with Arthur unit failed in ‘low-speed’ mode leading to Pilot Induced Oscillations. 4. Seat-belts not fastened during descent flight phase.

Primary Cause

Inadequate risk assessments of the PITCH FEEL malfunctions, specifically related to the pilot’s overriding of the A/P on the pitch channel during high-speed maneuvers and the failure of the Arthur unit in low-speed mode.Inadequate risk assessments of the PITCH FEEL malfunctions, specifically related to the pilot’s overriding of the A/P on the pitch channel during high-speed maneuvers and the failure of the Arthur unit in low-speed mode.

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