Qantas B738 at Perth on Dec 4th 2012, windshear on takeoff run past V1
Last Update: May 17, 2013 / 13:45:07 GMT/Zulu time
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Dec 4, 2012
Classification
Report
Airline
Qantas
Flight number
QF-718
Departure
Perth, Australia
Destination
Canberra, Australia
Aircraft Registration
VH-VZL
Aircraft Type
Boeing 737-800
ICAO Type Designator
B738
Tower advised the following departure of the pilot report of windshear on the runway and added that the tower instruments were now showing a threshold 06 wind of 060 degrees at 10 knots, an airfield center wind of 280 degrees at 15 knots signifying a substantial windshear about mid runway. Departures from runway 06 were temporarily halted.
Australia's Transportation Safety Board released their final report into the abbreviated investigation releasing following safety message:
This incident serves as a reminder to pilots that significant wind changes can occur during takeoff, can be difficult to predict, and can occur in the absence of thunderstorm activity. The wind conditions at each end of a runway may differ significantly so that headwind conditions can exist at one end and tailwind conditions at the other end.
Although it did not assist in this case, it is important to monitor the available windsocks before takeoff as it is the final opportunity to detect wind changes before the take-off roll begins.
The ATSB reported that cumulonimbus cloud were about 20-30nm from the aerodrome at the time of the occurrence, there was no indication of an impending change of winds.
The airport anemometer recordings, averaged over a minute, showed a significant change of wind exactly at the time of the takeoff roll of QF-718 with the wind suddenly changing from about 100 to 135 degrees at 7 knots to 227 degrees at 18 knots and further changing to 271 degrees at 25 knots a minute later. The actual anemometer reading just after the aircraft became airborne was 282 degrees at 25 knots.
Radar recordings showed the aircraft passed the end of the runway at a height of 10 feet. the crew did not receive a windshear alert, the quick access recorder did not record a windshear alert. The ATSB stated with regards to windshear alerts: "New warnings were inhibited after the aircraft reached 100 kt until it was over 50 ft above ground level."
The quick access recorder showed the airspeed stagnated at 134 knots for about 3-4 seconds, just below V1, at that point autothrottle was disconnected and maximum thrust was set, ground speed however was smoothly increasing at that time.
The ATSB reported: "The aircraft was equipped with two CFM56-7B24/3 engines, which enabled takeoffs to be planned up to a maximum thrust of 24,200 lbs (24K). In addition, during takeoff, there was a ‘take-off bump’ feature where ‘fire-walling’ the thrust levers could temporarily provide 27,300 lbs (27K) thrust irrespective of whether a 24K thrust setting had been selected."
Aircraft Registration Data
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Dec 4, 2012
Classification
Report
Airline
Qantas
Flight number
QF-718
Departure
Perth, Australia
Destination
Canberra, Australia
Aircraft Registration
VH-VZL
Aircraft Type
Boeing 737-800
ICAO Type Designator
B738
This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
Article source
You can read 2 more free articles without a subscription.
Subscribe now and continue reading without any limits!
Read unlimited articles and receive our daily update briefing. Gain better insights into what is happening in commercial aviation safety.
Send tip
Support AeroInside by sending a small tip amount.
Related articles
Qantas B789 over Pacific on Apr 14th 2024, electrical problem
A Qantas Boeing 787-9, registration VH-ZNH performing flight QF-76 (dep Apr 13th) from Vancouver,BC (Canada) to Sydney,NS (Australia), was enroute at…
Qantas A332 at Perth on Mar 25th 2024, engine shut down in flight
A Qantas Airbus A330-200, registration VH-EBA performing flight QF-781 from Melbourne,VI to Perth,WA (Australia), was descending towards Perth when a…
Qantas B738 near Kalgoorlie on Oct 25th 2021, fuel imbalance and engine shut down in flight
A Qantas Boeing 737-800, registration VH-VZT performing flight QF-888 from Perth,WA to Adelaide,SA (Australia) with 88 passengers and 6 crew, was…
Qantas B738 and Qantas B738 at Sydney on Apr 29th 2023, loss of separation between go around and takeoff
A Qantas Boeing 737-800, registration VH-VZW performing flight QF-146 from Auckland (New Zealand) to Sydney,NS (Australia) with 100 passengers and 7…
Qantas B738 over Tasman Sea on Oct 19th 2023, radio failure
A Qantas Boeing 737-800, registration VH-XZF performing flight QF-142 from Auckland (New Zealand) to Sydney,NS (Australia), was enroute at FL360 over…
Newest articles
THY A333 at Bucharest on Apr 17th 2024, lined up with right runway edge on departure
A THY Turkish Airlines Airbus A330-300, registration TC-LOC performing flight TK-1046 from Bucharest Otopeni (Romania) to Istanbul (Turkey) with 258…
Perimeter DH8C at Sandy Lake on Oct 19th 2022, tail strike on landing
A Perimeter Aviation de Havilland Dash 8-300, registration C-GJYZ performing a flight from Pikangikum, ON to Sandy Lake,ON (Canada) with 28…
Subscribe today
Are you researching aviation incidents? Get access to AeroInside Insights, unlimited read access and receive the daily newsletter.
Pick your plan and subscribePartner
![Blockaviation logo](/img/partner/logo-blockaviation.png)
A new way to document and demonstrate airworthiness compliance and aircraft value. Find out more.
![ELITE Logo](/img/partner/logo-elite-250.png)
ELITE Simulation Solutions is a leading global provider of Flight Simulation Training Devices, IFR training software as well as flight controls and related services. Find out more.
![Blue Altitude Logo](/img/partner/logo-blue-altitude-250.jpg)
Your regulation partner, specialists in aviation safety and compliance; providing training, auditing, and consultancy services. Find out more.
AeroInside Blog
Popular aircraft
Airbus A320Boeing 737-800
Boeing 737-800 MAX
Popular airlines
American AirlinesUnited
Delta
Air Canada
Lufthansa
British Airways