Descripción:
Boeing 747 F-GITA operated Air France flight 072, Paris-Los Angeles-Tahiti. Weather was good when the flight approached Tahiti at night. The aircraft positioned for a runway 22 VOR-DME approach. At 21:05 the aircraft touched down at a speed of 168 knots. Two seconds later no. 1 engine power increased to 107% N1.
Because of this the spoilers did not deploy and the automatic brake disarmed. Reverse thrust was used on all remaining engines. Because of difficulties due to thrust asymmetry, the no. 4 engine thrust reverser was cancelled. The aircraft overran the runway and ended up in a lagoon.
PROBABLE CAUSE:
The accident was due to an unstabilized approach and the application of high positive thrust by engine 1 on landing, as a result of a peculiarity in the automatic flight system that caused the aircraft to go into go-around mode at a point in the trajectory corresponding to the decision height.
This resulted in:
- the long touchdown with an excessive speed
- the deviation of the trajectory to the right and the lateral exit of the runway.
The lack of respect of the operational procedures concerning the checks and the announcements during the approach and the landing, as well as the lack of communication between the pilots were strong contributing factors to the accident. In particular, the deviations beyond the tolerances of several flight parameters should have led to a go-around.
The lack of information from the manufacturer to the operators and crews on this particularity of the automatic flight system is also a contributing factor to the accident.
» Bureau Enquêtes-Accidents Rapport relatif à l'accident survenu le 13 septembre 1993 sur laéroport de Tahiti Faaa au Boeing 747-428B immatriculé F-GITA exploité par Air France (F-TA930913)
» Flight International
» Scramble 172
| Estado: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Fecha: | domingo 12 septiembre 1993 |
| Hora: | 21:05 |
| Tipo: |  Boeing 747-428 |
| Operador: | Air France |
| Registración: | F-GITA |
| Numéro de série: | 24969/836 |
| Año de Construcción: | 1991-01-25 (2 years 8 months) |
| Horas Totales de la Célula: | 9901 |
| Motores: | 4 General Electric CF6-80C2B1F |
| Tripulación: | Fatalidades: 0 / Ocupantes: 16 |
| Pasajeros: | Fatalidades: 0 / Ocupantes: 256 |
| Total: | Fatalidades: 0 / Ocupantes: 272 |
| Daños en la Aeronave: | Considerable |
| Consecuencias: | Repaired |
| Ubicación: | Papeete-Faaa Airport (PPT), Tahiti ( Polinesia Francesa)
|
| Fase: | Aterrizaje (LDG) |
| Naturaleza: | Vuelo Internacional Programado |
| Aeropuerto de Salida: | Los Angeles International Airport, CA (LAX/KLAX), Estados Unidos de América |
| Papeete-Faaa Airport (PPT/NTAA), Polinesia Francesa | |
| Número de Vuelo: | AF072 |
Boeing 747 F-GITA operated Air France flight 072, Paris-Los Angeles-Tahiti. Weather was good when the flight approached Tahiti at night. The aircraft positioned for a runway 22 VOR-DME approach. At 21:05 the aircraft touched down at a speed of 168 knots. Two seconds later no. 1 engine power increased to 107% N1.
Because of this the spoilers did not deploy and the automatic brake disarmed. Reverse thrust was used on all remaining engines. Because of difficulties due to thrust asymmetry, the no. 4 engine thrust reverser was cancelled. The aircraft overran the runway and ended up in a lagoon.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE:
The accident was due to an unstabilized approach and the application of high positive thrust by engine 1 on landing, as a result of a peculiarity in the automatic flight system that caused the aircraft to go into go-around mode at a point in the trajectory corresponding to the decision height.
This resulted in:
- the long touchdown with an excessive speed
- the deviation of the trajectory to the right and the lateral exit of the runway.
The lack of respect of the operational procedures concerning the checks and the announcements during the approach and the landing, as well as the lack of communication between the pilots were strong contributing factors to the accident. In particular, the deviations beyond the tolerances of several flight parameters should have led to a go-around.
The lack of information from the manufacturer to the operators and crews on this particularity of the automatic flight system is also a contributing factor to the accident.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Fuentes:
» Aviation Week & Space Technology 20.9.93(23)» Bureau Enquêtes-Accidents Rapport relatif à l'accident survenu le 13 septembre 1993 sur laéroport de Tahiti Faaa au Boeing 747-428B immatriculé F-GITA exploité par Air France (F-TA930913)
» Flight International
» Scramble 172
Fotos
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 Los Angeles International Airport, CA to Papeete-Faaa Airport as the crow flies is 6568 km (4105 miles).
Distance from Los Angeles International Airport, CA to Papeete-Faaa Airport as the crow flies is 6568 km (4105 miles).
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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