Accident description
languages:
| Status: | Preliminary - official |
| Date: | 17 JAN 2008 |
| Time: | 12:43 |
| Type: | Boeing 777-236ER |
| Operator: | British Airways |
| Registration: | G-YMMM |
| C/n / msn: | 30314/342 |
| First flight: | 2001-05-18 (6 years 8 months) |
| Engines: | 2 Rolls-Royce RB211 Trent 895-17 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 16 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 136 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 152 |
| Airplane damage: | Substantial |
| Airplane fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | London-Heathrow Airport (LHR) (United Kingdom)
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| Phase: | Landing (LDG) |
| Nature: | International Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Beijing-Capital Airport (PEK/ZBAA), China |
| London-Heathrow Airport (LHR/EGLL), United Kingdom |
Following an uneventful flight from Beijing, China, the aircraft was established on an ILS approach to runway 27L at London Heathrow. Initially the approach progressed normally, with the Autopilot and Autothrottle engaged, until the aircraft was at a height of approximately 600 ft and 2 miles from touch down. The aircraft then descended rapidly and struck the ground, some 1,000 ft short of the paved runway surface, just inside the airfield boundary fence. The aircraft stopped on the very beginning of the paved surface of runway 27L. During the short ground roll the right main landing gear separated from the wing and the left main landing gear was pushed up through the wing root. A significant amount of fuel leaked from the aircraft but there was no fire. An emergency evacuation via the slides was supervised by the cabin crew and all occupants left the aircraft, some receiving minor injuries.
Initial indications from the interviews and Flight Recorder analyses show the flight and approach to have progressed normally until the aircraft was established on late finals for runway 27L. At approximately 600 ft and 2 miles from touch down, the Autothrottle demanded an increase in thrust from the two engines but the engines did not respond. Following further demands for increased thrust from the Autothrottle, and subsequently the flight crew moving the throttle levers, the engines similarly failed to respond. The aircraft speed reduced and the aircraft descended onto the grass short of the paved runway surface.
Sources:
» AAIB Ref: EW/C2008/01/01
Official accident investigation report
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Photos
Video/animation
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 Beijing-Capital Airport (PEK/ZBAA) to London-Heathrow Airport (LHR/EGLL) as the crow flies is 9019 km (5637 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 Beijing-Capital Airport (PEK/ZBAA) to London-Heathrow Airport (LHR/EGLL) as the crow flies is 9019 km (5637 miles).
