ASN Aircraft accident Airbus A320-214 A9C-AG Cochin International Airport (COK)

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Accident description

Last updated: 19 June 2013

Status:	Preliminary
Date:	29 AUG 2011
Time:	03:54
Type:	Airbus A320-214
Operator:	Gulf Air
Registration:	A9C-AG
C/n / msn:	4188
First flight:	2010-01-19 (1 year 7 months)
Total airframe hrs:	4758
Cycles:	2301
Engines:	2 CFMI CFM56-5B4/3
Crew:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 6
Passengers:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 137
Total:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 143
Airplane damage:	Minor
Location:	Cochin International Airport (COK) (India)
Phase:	Landing (LDG)
Nature:	International Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport:	Bahrain International Airport (BAH/OBBI), Bahrain
Destination airport:	Cochin International Airport (COK/VOCI), India
Flightnumber:	270

Narrative:
An Airbus A320 was damaged in a runway excursion accident at Cochin International Airport (COK), India. Seven passengers were injured.
Gulf Air Flight GF270 operated on flight from Bahrain International Airport (BAH) to Cochin. Visibility at Cochin was limited to about 2000 m in rain. There were scattered clouds at 800 feet and 1500 feet. An ILS approach to runway 09 was flown by the captain. He disengaged the autopilot at 670 feet.
Passing 200 feet the aircraft was banking to the right and the drift angle of 4° left progressively started reducing. A side slip condition to the right was initiated which led to a deviation from the runway axis. The right wheel touched down 25 m from the runway centre line on the hard shoulder. The A320 went off the runway pavement onto the soft shoulders and came to a halt at 1235 m from the threshold. The nose gear collapsed as the airplane came to rest in the grass.

Cause: "The Runway Excursion was caused due to an error of judgment of the PIC during which was due to loss of situational awareness during reduced visibility conditions."

Events:

Sources:
» NDTV, 29-8-2011

Official accident investigation report

investigating agency:	CoI
report status:	Final
report number:	Final report
report released:	20-JUN-2012
duration of investigation:	296 days (9.9 months)
download report:	Accident to Airbus A320 aircraft A9C-AG of M/S Gulf Air at Cochin International Airport on 29th August 2011 (CoI Final report)

Follow-up / safety actions

CoI India issued 6 Safety Recommendations

Show all AD's and Safety Recommendations

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 Bahrain International Airport to Cochin International Airport as the crow flies is 3226 km (2016 miles).

languages:

Issued: 20-JUN-2012	To:	A9C-AG (1)
Monsoon Conditions Training recommended by DGCA vide CAR, Section 8, Series C, Part-I dated 17-08-2011 may also be communicated to international Operators operating in India.
Issued: 20-JUN-2012	To:	A9C-AG (2)
RVR (Drishti) eqpt. has not been functioning regularly. The equipment is manufactured by NAL. IMD may ensure that NAL is able to ensure serviceability for effective performance. This is applicable to all airfields where such equipment is installed.
Issued: 20-JUN-2012	To: Gulf Air	A9C-AG (3)
Gulf Air may address the issue of CRM. Appropriate and focused interjection by PM whilst PIC was deviating from R/W axis during short finals, may have averted the incident.
Issued: 20-JUN-2012	To:	A9C-AG (4)
Applying cross control and side slipping inadvertently on short finals, resulting in deviation from R/W Axis is a dangerous occurrence. Skill levels with reference to this aspect need attention.
Issued: 20-JUN-2012	To:	A9C-AG (5)
Correct utilisation of FD to avoid large deviation of LOC, should be advocated.
Issued: 20-JUN-2012	To: DGCA	A9C-AG (6)
After such incident when preliminary investigation is completed and there is no indication of maintenance or technical failure, it must be ensured by DGCA that the aircraft be released at the earliest. Apart from financial loss to the operator, high tech. equipment (Computers, Avionics etc.) exposed to weather for long durations, could cause irreparable damage.