Détails:
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
| Statuts: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | dimanche 12 septembre 1993 |
| Heure: | 21:05 |
| Type/Sous-type: |  Boeing 747-428 |
| Compagnie: | Air France |
| Immatriculation: | F-GITA |
| Numéro de série: | 24969/836 |
| Année de Fabrication: | 1991-01-25 (2 years 8 months) |
| Heures de vol: | 9901 |
| Moteurs: | 4 General Electric CF6-80C2B1F |
| Equipage: | victimes: 0 / à bord: 16 |
| Passagers: | victimes: 0 / à bord: 256 |
| Total: | victimes: 0 / à bord: 272 |
| Dégats de l'appareil: | Substantiels |
| Conséquences: | Repaired |
| Lieu de l'accident: | Papeete-Faaa Airport (PPT), Tahiti ( Polynésie française)
|
| Phase de vol: | A l'atterrissage (LDG) |
| Nature: | Transport de Passagers Intern. |
| Aéroport de départ: | Los Angeles International Airport, CA (LAX/KLAX), Etats-Unis d'Amérique |
| Papeete-Faaa Airport (PPT/NTAA), Polynésie française | |
| Numéro de vol: | 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:
 |
|
Sources:
» 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
Photos
Plan
Ce plan montre l'aéroport de départ ainsi que la supposée destination du vol. La ligne fixe reliant les deux aéroports n'est pas le plan de vol exact.
La distance entre Los Angeles International Airport, CA et Papeete-Faaa Airport est de 6568 km (4105 miles).
La distance entre Los Angeles International Airport, CA et Papeete-Faaa Airport est de 6568 km (4105 miles).
Les informations ci-dessus ne représentent pas l'opinion de la 'Flight Safety Foundation' ou de 'Aviation Safety Network' sur les causes de l'accident. Ces informations prélimimaires sont basées sur les faits tel qu'ils sont connus à ce jour.
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