Incident Boeing 737-86JSF (WL) ET-AVX, Monday 15 May 2023
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Date:Monday 15 May 2023
Time:04:25
Type:Silhouette image of generic B738 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Boeing 737-86JSF (WL)
Owner/operator:Ethiopian Airlines
Registration: ET-AVX
MSN: 29121/239
Year of manufacture:1999
Engine model:CFMI CFM56-7B
Fatalities:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4
Other fatalities:0
Aircraft damage: Minor, repaired
Category:Incident
Location:Lome Airport (LFW/DXXX) -   Togo
Phase: Standing
Nature:Cargo
Departure airport:Addis Ababa-Bole Airport (ADD/HAAB)
Destination airport:Lagos-Murtala Muhammed International Airport (LOS/DNMM)
Investigating agency: BTEA
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
Ethiopian Airlines flight ET3901, a Boeing 737-800F, from Addis Ababa to Lagos, diverted to Lomé due to adverse weather conditions in Lagos. In Lomé, the aircraft landed without incident and was parked in position S10A. Following a storm accompanied by strong winds, the aircraft rotated nearly 90° to the right, at around 04:25. During its rotation, it struck mobile airstairs located at the left front door, causing significant damage to its left wing and the vehicle.

Cause
The commission identified the main cause as the presence of the airstairs at the aircraft's front left door at the time when the weather conditions deteriorated.
Contributing Factors

- Failure to apply procedures in case of deteriorating weather conditions by all parties involved.
- Absence of ground handling agents during the closing of the front door during the storm.
- Lack of coordination between the crew and the ground handling company during this period.

METAR:

METAR DXXX 150400Z 24006KT 180V270 8000 -TSRA FEW010 FEW020CB 27/25 Q1013 TEMPO 4000 TSRA=
SPECI DXXX 150426Z /////KT 2000 R22/1300D +TSRA BKN010 FEW020CB 25/22 Q1018 TEMPO 4000 TSRA=
METAR DXXX 150430Z 08022KT 2000 R22/0700D +TSRA BKN010 FEW020CB 23/21 Q1017 TEMPO 4000 TSRA=
SPECI DXXX 150453Z 07007KT 040V100 3500 TSRA BKN010 SCT020CB 23/22 Q1015 TEMPO 2000 +TSRA=

Accident investigation:
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Investigating agency: BTEA
Report number: 001/2023/BTEA-TG
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 1 year and 5 months
Download report: Final report

Sources:

BTEA

History of this aircraft

Other occurrences involving this aircraft

21 March 2004 D-ABAU Air Berlin 0 Hannover Airport (HAJ/EDDV) min

Location

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
10-May-2025 15:38 ASN Added

Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description

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