Narrative:
As the aircraft rotated for take off, both fan cowl doors detached from the no 1 engine and struck the aircraft. The doors were destroyed and localised damage resulted to the No 1 engine and its pylon, the left wing, the left flaps and slats, the fuselage and the fin. The evidence indicated that the doors had probably remained unlatched, after having been closed following maintenance prior to the accident flight and had been torn off their pylon attachment hinges by aerodynamic forces as the aircraft rotated.
At 08:09 hours, low visibility procedures came into force at Gatwick due to a reducing Runway Visual Range (RVR). The commander decided to divert the flight to London Stansted Airport. The aircraft landed at Stansted at 08:36 hours without further incident.
Three walk-round inspections had been conducted after the doors had been closed.
Loss/opening of engine cowling
Forced landing on runway
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Thursday 20 January 2000 |
| Time: | 06:55 |
| Type: |  Airbus A320-231 |
| Operator: | Airtours International |
| Registration: | G-VCED |
| MSN: | 193 |
| First flight: | 1991-08-06 (8 years 6 months) |
| Engines: | 2 IAE V2500-A1 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 6 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 146 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 152 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Aircraft fate: | Repaired |
| Location: | London-Gatwick Airport (LGW) ( United Kingdom)
|
| Phase: | Takeoff (TOF) |
| Nature: | Int'l Non Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | London-Gatwick Airport (LGW/EGKK), United Kingdom |
| Almeria Airport (LEI/LEAM), Spain |
As the aircraft rotated for take off, both fan cowl doors detached from the no 1 engine and struck the aircraft. The doors were destroyed and localised damage resulted to the No 1 engine and its pylon, the left wing, the left flaps and slats, the fuselage and the fin. The evidence indicated that the doors had probably remained unlatched, after having been closed following maintenance prior to the accident flight and had been torn off their pylon attachment hinges by aerodynamic forces as the aircraft rotated.
At 08:09 hours, low visibility procedures came into force at Gatwick due to a reducing Runway Visual Range (RVR). The commander decided to divert the flight to London Stansted Airport. The aircraft landed at Stansted at 08:36 hours without further incident.
Three walk-round inspections had been conducted after the doors had been closed.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Loss/opening of engine cowling
Forced landing on runway
Follow-up / safety actions
AAIB issued 6 Safety Recommendations
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Photos
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 London-Gatwick Airport to Almeria Airport as the crow flies is 1588 km (993 miles).
Distance from London-Gatwick Airport to Almeria Airport as the crow flies is 1588 km (993 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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