ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 747-258F 4X-AXG Bijlmermeer, Amsterdam
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Status:Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Date:Sunday 4 October 1992
Time:18:35
Type:Silhouette image of generic B742 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
Boeing 747-258F
Operator:El Al Israel Airlines
Registration: 4X-AXG
MSN: 21737/362
First flight: 1979-03-07 (13 years 7 months)
Total airframe hrs:45746
Cycles:10107
Engines: 4 Pratt & Whitney JT9D-7J
Crew:Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3
Passengers:Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1
Total:Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4
Ground casualties:Fatalities: 39
Aircraft damage: Destroyed
Aircraft fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:Bijlmermeer, Amsterdam (   Netherlands)
Phase: En route (ENR)
Nature:Cargo
Departure airport:Amsterdam-Schiphol International Airport (AMS/EHAM), Netherlands
Destination airport:Tel Aviv-Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV/LLBG), Israel
Flightnumber:1862
Narrative:
El Al flight 1862 departed New York-JFK Airport for a cargo flight to Tel Aviv, Israel via Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The aircraft, a Boeing 747-258F, arrived at Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport at 14:40 hours local time for a crew change, cargo processing and refueling. The total amount of cargo was 114.7 tons, gross weight of the aircraft 338.3 tons which was 21 tons below the maximum allowable.
The aircraft taxied out to runway 01L at 18:14 and started the takeoff roll at 18:21. At 18:28:30, as the aircraft was climbing through 6500 feet, the no. 3 engine and pylon separated from the wing in an outward and rearward movement, colliding with the no. 4 engine causing this engine and pylon to separate as well. An emergency was declared and the crew acknowledged their intention to return to Schiphol Airport and reported that they had a no. 3 engine failure and a loss of engine thrust of both no. 3 and 4 engine. At 18:28:57 the Amsterdam Radar controller informed the crew that runway 06 was in use with wind from 40 degrees at 21 knots. The crew however requested runway 27 for landing. A straight in approach to runway 27 was not possible because of airplane altitude (5000 feet) and distance to the runway (7 miles). The Amsterdam Arrival controller then instructed the crew to turn right heading 360 degrees and descend to 2000 feet. During this descending turn the flight crew reported that the no. 3 and 4 engine were out and that they were having flap problems. Final clearance was given to turn right heading 270 to intercept the final approach course. When it became apparent that the aircraft was going to overshoot the localizer, the controller informed the crew accordingly and directed them to turn to heading 290 to try and intercept the final approach path again. A further instruction was given for a 310 degree heading change and descent clearance for 1500 feet. These instructions were acknowledged and the crew added that they were experiencing control problems. While reducing speed in preparation for the final approach, control was lost and the aircraft crashed into an eleven-floor apartment building the Bijlmermeer suburb of Amsterdam.

Probable Cause:

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The design and certification of the B747 pylon was found to be inadequate to provide the required level of safety. Furthermore the system to ensure structural integrity by inspection failed. This ultimately caused - probably initiated by fatigue in the inboard midspar fuse-pin - the no. 3 pylon and engine to separate from the wing in such a way that the no. 4 pylon and engine were torn off, part of the leading edge of the wing was damaged and the use of several systems was lost or limited. This subsequently left the flight crew with very limited control of the airplane. Because of the marginal controllability a safe landing became highly improbable, if not virtually impossible."

Accident investigation:

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Investigating agency: Raad vd Luchtvaart
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 1 year and 5 months
Accident number: AAR 92-11
Download report: Final report

Classification:
Engine separation
Loss of control

Sources:
» Aircraft Accident Report 92-11 El Al Flight 1862 Boeing 747-258F 4X-AXG Bijlmermeer, Amsterdam October 4, 1992 / Netherlands Aviation Safety Board
» NTSB Safety Recommendations A-92-117


Follow-up / safety actions

FAA issued 2 Airworthiness Directives
NTSB issued 4 Safety Recommendations
RvdL issued 14 Safety Recommendations

Show all...

Photos

photo of Boeing-747-258F-4X-AXG
accident date: 04-10-1992
type: Boeing 747-258F
registration: 4X-AXG
photo of Boeing-747-258F-4X-AXG
accident date: 04-10-1992
type: Boeing 747-258F
registration: 4X-AXG
photo of Boeing-747-258F-4X-AXG
accident date: 04-10-1992
type: Boeing 747-258F
registration: 4X-AXG
photo of Boeing-747-258F-4X-AXG
accident date: 04-10-1992
type: Boeing 747-258F
registration: 4X-AXG
photo of Boeing-747-258F-4X-AXG
accident date: 04-10-1992
type: Boeing 747-258F
registration: 4X-AXG
photo of Boeing-747-258F-4X-AXG
accident date: 04-10-1992
type: Boeing 747-258F
registration: 4X-AXG
photo of Boeing-747-258F-4X-AXG
accident date: 04-10-1992
type: Boeing 747-258F
registration: 4X-AXG
photo of Boeing-747-258F-4X-AXG
photo of Boeing-747-258F-4X-AXG
photo of Boeing-747-258F-4X-AXG
accident date: 04-10-1992
type: Boeing 747-258F
registration: 4X-AXG
photo of Boeing-747-258F-4X-AXG
accident date: 04-10-1992
type: Boeing 747-258F
registration: 4X-AXG
photo of Boeing-747-258F-4X-AXG
accident date: 04-10-1992
type: Boeing 747-258F
registration: 4X-AXG
photo of Boeing-747-258F-4X-AXG
accident date: 04-10-1992
type: Boeing 747-258F
registration: 4X-AXG
photo of Boeing-747-258F-4X-AXG
accident date: 04-10-1992
type: Boeing 747-258F
registration: 4X-AXG
 

Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Amsterdam-Schiphol International Airport to Tel Aviv-Ben Gurion International Airport as the crow flies is 3288 km (2055 miles).
Accident location: Exact; deduced from official accident report.

This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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Boeing 747

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  • 23rd loss
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