Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
Date: | Sunday 22 March 1998 |
Time: | 19:41 |
Type: |  Airbus A320-214 |
Operator: | Philippine Air Lines |
Registration: | RP-C3222 |
MSN: | 708 |
First flight: | 1997 |
Total airframe hrs: | 1224 |
Cycles: | 1070 |
Engines: | 2 CFMI CFM56-5B4 |
Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 6 |
Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 124 |
Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 130 |
Ground casualties: | Fatalities: 3 |
Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
Location: | Bacolod Airport (BCD) ( Philippines)
|
Phase: | Landing (LDG) |
Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
Departure airport: | Manila International Airport (MNL/RPLL), Philippines |
Destination airport: | Bacolod Airport (BCD/RPVB), Philippines |
Flightnumber: | PR137 |
Narrative:Flight PR 137 was a regular scheduled passenger flight and departed Manila for Bacolod at 18:40. The airplane departed with the thrust reverser of engine no. 1 inoperative.
At 19:20, PR137 called Bacolod Approach Control and reported passing FL260 and 55 DME to Bacolod . The crew then requested landing instructions and was instructed to descend to FL90 after passing Iloilo and descend to 3,000 ft for a VOR runway 04 approach. Wind was 030° at 08 kts, altimeter 1014 mbs, transition level at FL60 and temperature at 28°C. At 19:28, the flight requested to intercept the final approach to runway 04 and Approach Control replied "PR 137 visual approach on final". At 19:37, Bacolod Tower cleared the flight to land at runway 04 and the clearance was acknowledged by the pilot.
The approach was flown with the Autothrust system was engaged in SPEED mode. The thrust lever of engine no.1 was left in Climb detent. Upon touchdown the first officer called out "no spoilers, no reverse, no decel". Engine no.2 was set to full reverse thrust after touchdown, but the engine no .1 thrust lever was not retarded to idle and remained in the climb power position. Consequently, the spoilers did not deploy.
Because one engine was set to reverse, the autothrust system automatically disengaged. With the autothrust disengaged, no. 1 engine thrust increased to climb thrust. Due to the asymmetrical thrust condition, the A320 ran off the right side of the runway. At this speed, rudder and nosewheel steering are ineffective. Engine no.2 was moved out of reverse up to more than 70 percent N1 and the airplane swerved back onto the runway. The A320 continued past the runway end. The aircraft hit the airport perimeter fence and then jumped over a small river. It continued to slice through a hallow block fence where it went through several clusters of shanties and trees. No fire ensued after the crash.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The probable cause of this accident was the inability of the pilot flying to assess properly the situational condition of the aircraft immediately upon touch down with No. 1 engine reverse inoperative, thereby causing an adverse flight condition of extreme differential power application during the landing roll resulting in runway excursion and finally an overshoot.
Contributory to this accident is the apparent lack of technical systems knowledge and lack of appreciation of the disastrous effects of misinterpreting provisions and requirements of a Minimum Equipment List (MEL).
Classification:
Runway excursion
Sources:
» Aircraft Accident Report / Air Transportation Office (ATO)
Photos

accident date:
22-03-1998type: Airbus A320-214
registration: RP-C3222

accident date:
22-03-1998type: Airbus A320-214
registration: RP-C3222

accident date:
22-03-1998type: Airbus A320-214
registration: RP-C3222

accident date:
22-03-1998type: Airbus A320-214
registration: RP-C3222
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 Manila International Airport to Bacolod Airport as the crow flies is 475 km (297 miles).
Accident location: Exact; as reported in the official accident report.
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.