Date:	Thursday 8 October 1998
Time:	13:00
Type:	Aérospatiale / BAC Concorde 102
Owner/operator:	British Airways
Registration:	G-BOAC
MSN:	204
Year of manufacture:	1975
Engine model:	Rolls-Royce Olympus 593
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 64
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial, repaired
Category:	Accident
Location:	North Atlantic, at approx. 47°N, 50°W, off Newfoundland -   Canada
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Passenger - Scheduled
Departure airport:	London Heathrow Airport (LHR/EGLL)
Destination airport:	New York-John F. Kennedy International Airport, NY (JFK/KJFK),
Investigating agency:	AAIB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
The aircraft was operating a scheduled passenger service between London Heathrow Airport and New York JFK Airport. While cruising at Mach 2.0, FL 547 (54.700 feet), close to 47 N, 50°W, off the coast of Newfoundland, the crew felt 'vibration plus a thump'. Scrutiny of the instruments and available indications revealed nothing untoward. The commander suspected that a section of flying control might have become detached and went aft to conduct a visual inspection. At that time, the aircraft had about 38 tonnes of fuel on board and was some 1 hour 22 minutes to destination.

Only the outer and middle elevons are visible from the cabin and they were seen to be intact and reacting normally. There was a continuous slight vibration felt in the cabin, similar in feel to light turbulence.

As the aircraft was otherwise performing normally, the commander elected to continue supersonically to the planned destination. The normal flight profile was followed up to the Deceleration Point. In anticipation of increased vibration during transonic flight, the crew reduced thrust to idle power below Mach 1.8 to expedite passage through that regime. At around Mach 1.0, there was more noticeable vibration felt. This subsequently decreased as the aircraft reduced speed further.

The remainder of the flight and the landing were normal, the aircraft landing with about 15 tonnes of fuel remaining. During taxi-in, ATC reported that a piece of the aircraft's rudder appeared to be missing.

1. AAIB; https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5422fbdc40f0b61342000795/dft_avsafety_pdf_500465.pdf
2. CAA; https://siteapps.caa.co.uk/g-info/rk=BOAC
3. NTSB Identification: NYC99WA006 at https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief2.aspx?ev_id=20001211X11343&ntsbno=NYC99WA006&akey=1

Other occurrences involving this aircraft


29 December 1978	G-BOAC	British Airways	0	near New York, NY		unk
Engine failure
8 March 1984	G-BOAC	British Airways	0	New York-John F. Kennedy International Airport, NY (JFK/KJFK)		min
Tire failure
11 August 1987	G-BOAC	British Airways	0	New York-John F. Kennedy International Airport, NY (JFK/KJFK)		unk
Tire failure
9 March 1988	G-BOAC	British Airways	0	London		unk
Tire failure
25 May 1998	G-BOAC	British Airways	0	Atlantic Ocean, 60 nm north of Isles of Scilly, Cornwall		min
Tire failure
3 November 2002	G-BOAC	British Airways	0	over Atlantic Ocean		non
13 June 2003	G-BOAC	British Airways	0	North Atlantic, between London Heathrow and JFK New York		min
4 October 2003	G-BOAC	British Airways	0	near London Heathrow Airport, Hounslow, Middlesex		min
Fumes/smoke/odor event

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
26-Jul-2012 07:21	harro	Added
09-Dec-2015 21:22	Dr.John Smith	Updated [Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, ]
28-Jun-2016 21:18	Dr.John Smith	Updated [Date, Time, Registration, Cn, Location, Country, Source, Damage, Narrative, ]
28-Jun-2016 21:19	Dr.John Smith	Updated [Location, Source, ]
28-Jun-2016 21:20	Dr.John Smith	Updated [Location, ]
11-Dec-2024 19:27	ASN	Updated [Damage, ]