Ryanair B738 at London on Feb 7th 2012, descended below profile

Last Update: October 11, 2012 / 16:29:43 GMT/Zulu time

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Incident Facts

Date of incident
Feb 7, 2012

Classification
Incident

Airline
Ryanair

Aircraft Type
Boeing 737-800

ICAO Type Designator
B738

The AAIB have released their Bulletin reporting that the crew were expecting an ILS approach to runway 08R and had briefed accordingly. During the descent ATC advised however, that the ILS was not available and they would be vectored onto a visual approach to runway 08R. The pilot flying reprogrammed the FMS to show a 3 degrees glidepath information on the Navigation display and kept the autopilot in LVL CHG mode. ATC asked whether they could accept an early turn onto final reducing the track miles to touch down, which the crew accepted. The aircraft was now above the descent profile, the crew however assessed that using flaps and speed brakes they should be able to return the aircraft onto the descent profile. A short time later ATC instructed to reduce speed.

When the aircraft descended through 4500 feet the gear was lowered and flaps were extended to 15 degrees. At 2200 feet the aircraft was established on final approach course and was approaching the 3 degrees glide path from above descending at 1500 feet per minute. The crew noticed they were approaching the glide path but omitted to engage the VNAV. The aircraft thus descended through the descent profile until about 1000 feet when the EGPWS issued a terrain warning and the crew got sight of the PAPIs. ATC at the same time inquired whether they were visual as they were "slightly low". The pilot flying disconnected autopilot and autothrust, reduced the rate of descent, re-acquired the descent profile and continued for a safe landing.

Both flight crew they had not seen the PAPIs until the terrain warning was issued, however, they always had visual contact to the ground and there was no risk of a ground collision.

The AAIB analysed that by accepting the early turn onto final the crew increased their workload which resulted in the LVL CHG mode remaining engaged although the crew had noticed they were approaching the correct descent profile and would have needed to change to VNAV mode. The pilots were finally alerted by the EGPWS terrain warning, the ATC call and the PAPIs.
Incident Facts

Date of incident
Feb 7, 2012

Classification
Incident

Airline
Ryanair

Aircraft Type
Boeing 737-800

ICAO Type Designator
B738

This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
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