Incident Overview
Date: Friday 28 January 1972
Aircraft Type: Vickers VC10-1100
Owner/operator: British Caledonian Airways
Registration Number: G-ARTA
Location: London-Gatwick Airport (LGW) –
ÿ United Kingdom
Phase of Flight: Landing
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4
Component Affected: Fuselage (specifically, the wing and fuselage structure)Fuselage (specifically, the wing and fuselage structure)
Category: Accident
The aircraft, a VC10 named ‘Loch Ness’, experienced a sudden loss of control following spoilers and reverse thrust, resulting in a series of hard landings and bouncing. Damage to the fuselage, including creasing and tire damage, was observed. One wheel separated, and a wheel burst.The aircraft, a VC10 named ‘Loch Ness’, experienced a sudden loss of control following spoilers and reverse thrust, resulting in a series of hard landings and bouncing. Damage to the fuselage, including creasing and tire damage, was observed. One wheel separated, and a wheel burst.
Description
Shortly after selecting spoilers and reverse thrust (after touching down on runway 08) the aircraft became airborne again, landed back heavily and bounced two more times. The fuselage was creased fore and aft of the wings, one nose wheel tire had burst and one wheel had separated. The VC10, named “Loch Ness” had a landing weight of 87037 kg and a CG very close to the aft limit at 36,83%. Winds at the time of landing were gusting to 28 kts.
Primary Cause
Loss of control due to abrupt control inputs and potential aerodynamic instability during landing.Loss of control due to abrupt control inputs and potential aerodynamic instability during landing.Share on:
