Flybe DH8D near Dublin on Apr 27th 2016, incapacitated first officer interferes with flight controls
Last Update: January 20, 2017 / 16:15:23 GMT/Zulu time
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Apr 27, 2016
Classification
Report
Airline
Flybe
Flight number
BE-303
Departure
Exeter, United Kingdom
Destination
Dublin, Ireland
Aircraft Registration
G-ECOP
Aircraft Type
De Havilland Dash 8 (400)
ICAO Type Designator
DH8D
Ireland's AAIU released their final report commenting the occurrence:
The Co-pilot was probably under some stress on the morning of the flight considering that his young child had a hospital appointment the following day. Stress and lack of quality sleep may have been factors in his feeling unwell and incapacitation during the flight.
In this event the Co-pilot requested permission to leave the flight deck at a time when the flight crew’s workload began to increase at the commencement of descent. Before the Co-pilot could leave the flight deck, the Commander responded to an unexpected aircraft upset caused by an involuntary input from the Co-pilot as he became increasingly unwell.
Following the unexpected aircraft upset, the Commander reacted promptly and ensured that the aircraft was returned to a safe flight path. Only then did he realise that the Co-pilot was unresponsive and had become incapacitated.
As the Commander was already in communication with the SCCM, he considered the standard call to alert Cabin Crew was not required. The Crew reacted to the situation in an effective and co-ordinated manner, carried out the incapacitation drills and the CCM occupied the jump-seat for approach and landing. Notwithstanding a minor issue with a headset, there was good communication between the Commander and Cabin Crew. The Commander, assisted by the Cabin Crew, ensured that the Co-pilot was secure in his seat and away from the controls while the cabin was secured for the approach and landing with an ABP occupying the aft crew seat.
The situation was dealt with in an efficient manner by the Commander with good use of CRM by the Crew; in its own safety report the Operator commented that ‘the reaction by the rest of the crew was swift and effective and they should be commended for their calmness, initiative and attitude throughout the incident.’
The AAIU reported: "The remainder of the Crew were stood down from subsequent duties and positioned home to the UK later that day. The Co-pilot was kept in hospital overnight for observation before being released. It was determined that the Co-pilot suffered a brief loss of consciousness (syncope) due to a sudden drop in blood pressure. This condition can commonly occur in healthy people and recovery is normally prompt and without any persisting ill effects. At the time of writing, the Co-pilot had not yet returned to flying duties with the Operator."
Only in the synopsis (but not the factual portion) of the report the AAIU stated: "Before the Co-pilot left his seat, the Commander felt an unexpected aircraft upset in the form of a yaw and roll to the left. The Co-pilot, who had become incapacitated, had inadvertently made an input to the left rudder pedal."
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Apr 27, 2016
Classification
Report
Airline
Flybe
Flight number
BE-303
Departure
Exeter, United Kingdom
Destination
Dublin, Ireland
Aircraft Registration
G-ECOP
Aircraft Type
De Havilland Dash 8 (400)
ICAO Type Designator
DH8D
This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
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