Loss of control Serious incident ATR 72-500 (72-212A) EC-KKQ,
ASN logo
ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 200008
 
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information. If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.

Date:Saturday 9 September 2017
Time:c. 19:26 LT
Type:Silhouette image of generic AT72 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
ATR 72-500 (72-212A)
Owner/operator:Swiftair, opf Air Europa
Registration: EC-KKQ
MSN: 763
Year of manufacture:2007
Fatalities:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 26
Aircraft damage: None
Category:Serious incident
Location:between Alicante and Madrid -   Spain
Phase: En route
Nature:Passenger - Scheduled
Departure airport:Alicante Airport (ALC/LEAL)
Destination airport:Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD/LEMD)
Investigating agency: CIAIAC
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
Air Europa flight UX4050, operated by a Swiftair ATR 72-500, was involved in a stall incident when it was passing through an area with icing conditions while climbing to FL170.
The aircraft took off normally in daylight conditions at 19:09 hours local time from runway 10 at Alicante Airport. On board were 22 passengers, and 4 crew members. The flight was to be carried out at FL170 and moderate ice conditions were expected on the climb up to FL150.
The aircraft made the CATON3A departure and was initially authorized to FL170. Ten minutes into the flight, with the aircraft at FL130, the crew activated all three levels of ice protection. Seven minutes later, at 19:26 hours, with the aircraft climbing to FL170 the aircraft entered a stall
The crew recovered from the stall and declared an emergency. The autopilot was switched off and the aircraft experienced a sharp drop in altitude and oscillations.
The crew declared MAYDAY to the air traffic control services and was given priority for landing in Madrid. During the approach, there was a blockage problem in the vertical stabilizer which was later linked to a TLU (travel limitation unit) operating problem.
The landing and taxiing took place without any further incidents. None of the occupants of the aircraft were injured.

The investigation has determined that the probable cause of the loss of control in icing conditions was a deficient flight management by the crew and an inappropriate use of automation. Investigators were critical of the climb management as the climb target speed of 170 KIAS was not maintained. Instead 180 KIAS and later 176 KIAS were used. The crew also used the PITCH autopilot mode rather than the IAS autopilot mode, even though none of the conditions for PITCH mode existed.

Accident investigation:
cover
  
Investigating agency: CIAIAC
Report number: IN-020/2017
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 2 years and 5 months
Download report: Final report

Sources:

https://www.bea.aero/en/investigation-reports/notified-events/detail/event/serious-incident-to-the-atr72-registered-ec-kkq-and-operated-by-swiftair-on-09092017-at-alicante/
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/ec-kkq#eccc31a
https://www.fomento.gob.es/MFOM/LANG_CASTELLANO/ORGANOS_COLEGIADOS/CIAIAC/INVESTIGACION/2017/IN-020_2017.htm
https://www.flightglobal.com/safety/swiftair-atr-icing-stall-inquiry-catalogues-series-of-crew-failures/136543.article
https://www.mitma.es/recursos_mfom/comodin/recursos/in-020-2017_final_report_nm.pdf

History of this aircraft

Other occurrences involving this aircraft
24 June 2013 EC-KKQ Swiftair, opf Air Europa 0 Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD/LEMD) min
Engine failure

Images:


Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
28-Sep-2017 14:02 harro Added
28-Sep-2017 14:03 harro Updated [Photo, ]
28-Sep-2017 14:13 harro Updated [Time, Source, Narrative, Photo, ]
28-Sep-2017 14:15 harro Updated [Narrative]
05-Oct-2017 17:34 harro Updated [Total occupants, Narrative]
08-Oct-2017 11:51 Aerossurance Updated [Source]
08-Feb-2020 10:00 Aerossurance Updated [Source, Narrative]
08-Feb-2020 10:08 Aerossurance Updated [Source]
08-Feb-2020 10:44 harro Updated [Source, Accident report, ]

Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description

The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:

CONNECT WITH US: FSF on social media FSF Facebook FSF Twitter FSF Youtube FSF LinkedIn FSF Instagram

©2024 Flight Safety Foundation

1920 Ballenger Av, 4th Fl.
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
www.FlightSafety.org