Re:
Jammed throttle led to City Star 328 overrun at Aberdeen
David Kaminski-Morrow, London (22Aug06, 18:11 GMT, 294 words)
UK investigators have determined that jammed throttle levers led a City Star Airlines Dornier 328 turboprop to overrun the runway on landing in June, and have warned 328 operators to ensure pilots are trained to handle similar situations.
After a normal landing at Aberdeen, following a flight from Stavanger on 22 June, the co-pilot attempted to move the throttle levers rearwards from the flight-idle position, in order to reduce thrust.
But the co-pilot was unable to release the levers’ latches and, after two further attempts, the aircraft’s captain took over. He was also unsuccessful in releasing the latches.
Despite aggressive braking the aircraft overran Aberdeen’s runway 34, travelling about 350m (1,150ft) before coming to rest. None of the 16 passengers and three crew members was injured.
The UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) notes that a similar event led to a fatal Minerva Airlines Dornier 328 accident at Genoa in Italy seven years ago.
Four people drowned when the aircraft overran the runway in February 1999, after its pilot was unable to move the throttle levers from the flight-idle to the ground-idle position. Investigators subsequently recommended that manufacturer Fairchild Dornier define a procedure allowing pilots to deal with a jammed throttle.
Fairchild Dornier collapsed in 2002 and German manufacturer AvCraft Aerospace took over its regional aircraft production lines before itself failing last year.
In an advisory bulletin the AAIB says: “Engineering evaluation of the design of the power lever gate and latches is continuing in consultation with the current type certificate holder, AvCraft Aerospace.”
But it says that, given the City Star incident, 328 turboprop operators should detail procedures and provide adequate training to crews, so that pilots will be able to “act appropriately” if they cannot select the necessary throttle-lever position after touchdown.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
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