Accident description
languages:
| Status: | Preliminary |
| Date: | 07 FEB 2001 |
| Type: | Airbus A320-214 |
| Operator: | Iberia |
| Registration: | EC-HKJ |
| C/n / msn: | 1278 |
| First flight: | 2000 |
| Engines: | 2 CFMI CFM56-5B4/P |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 7 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 136 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 143 |
| Airplane damage: | Written off |
| Airplane fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Bilbao Airport (BIO) (Spain)
 |
| Phase: | Landing (LDG) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Barcelona Airport (BCN/LEBL), Spain |
| Bilbao Airport (BIO/LEBB), Spain | |
| Flightnumber: | 1456 |
Following a nighttime flight from Barcelona to Bilbao, the crew positioned the plane for a runway 30 approach and landing. During their final ILS approach, the aircraft encountered heavy turbulence at about 200 feet agl. with gusts up to 65 mph. The aircraft encountered windshear with 1.25G updraft, downdraft and a tailwind gust at just 70 feet agl. When the Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) sounded, the captain called for a go-around while pulling on the sidestick, reportedly without pressing his priority control button. The combination of dynamic winds and the crew actions created a situation that triggered the airplane's alpha protection system. As the crew applied TOGA power for a go-around, with both pilots pulling back on their sidesticks, the alpha protection law reduced the elevator nose-up command. Instead of a go- around, the aircraft struck the runway with a vertical speed of approx. 1,200 fpm. The nosegear collapsed and the aircraft skidded 3,280 feet (about 1000m) down the runway before coming to a stop.
Follow-up / safety actions:
This incident prompted Airbus to develop a modification to its flight control software. It will prevent the airplane's built-in protection against stall from being activated by a high rate of change in angle of attack. As an interim action, an AD was issued requiring A.320/A.319
operators to fly at least 10 knots faster and to use only a setting of "CONFIG 3" during approach with gusts higher than 10 knots or when moderate to severe turbulence is expected on short final.
Sources:
» Air Safety Week, Vol. 15, No. 25
Statistics
9th loss of a Airbus A320
7th worst accident involving a Airbus A320 (at the time)
11th worst accident involving a Airbus A320 (currently)
73rd worst accident in Spain (at the time)
80th worst accident in Spain (currently) » figures explained
7th worst accident involving a Airbus A320 (at the time)
11th worst accident involving a Airbus A320 (currently)
73rd worst accident in Spain (at the time)
80th worst accident in Spain (currently) » figures explained
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 Barcelona Airport (BCN/LEBL) to Bilbao Airport (BIO/LEBB) as the crow flies is 464 km (290 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.
Distance from Barcelona Airport (BCN/LEBL) to Bilbao Airport (BIO/LEBB) as the crow flies is 464 km (290 miles).
