Vistara A20N at Lucknow on Jul 15th 2019, landed with just 260kg of fuel remaining

Last Update: July 18, 2019 / 18:04:17 GMT/Zulu time

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Incident Facts

Date of incident
Jul 15, 2019

Classification
Incident

Airline
Vistara Airlines

Flight number
UK-944

Departure
Mumbai, India

Destination
Delhi, India

Aircraft Registration
VT-TNH

Aircraft Type
Airbus A320-200N

ICAO Type Designator
A20N

A Vistara Airbus A320-200N, registration VT-TNH performing flight UK-944 from Mumbai to Delhi (India) with 153 people on board, was on approach to Delhi when the crew entered holds at FL160, FL140 and FL110 for about 20 minutes and commenced an approach to Delhi's runway 29 about 50 minutes after leaving cruise level 310. The crew decided to go around due to an increase in tail winds beyond the aircraft's certification (about 2 hours after departure from Mumbai). The aircraft entered a hold at FL130 for about 6 minutes then decided to divert to Lucknow (India). The aircraft climbed to FL270 and performed an approach to Lucknow's runway 27 about 3 hours after departure from Mumbai), however, while on approach to the runway about 17nm from touchdown ATC informed the crew that the RVR had dropped to 475 meters (required 600 meters for the approach) and was about to further drop (to 275 meters). The crew aborted the approach at 3000 feet and climbed the aircraft to 4000 feet to assess the situation. The crew subsequently declared emergency due to low fuel, and decided to divert to Kanpur (India) subsequently changing the diversion to Allahabad (India). The aircraft climbed to FL100. While the aircraft was heading towards Allahabad, the situation at Lucknow improved and the RVR changed to more than 1000 meters. The crew decided to abort the diversion about 3:15 hours after departure, returned to Lucknow and landed safely on runway 27 about 3:29 hours after departure from Mumbai and about 90 minutes after the go around in Delhi.

India's DGCA reported on Jul 18th 2019, that the aircraft had only 260kg of fuel remaining at touch down. The aircraft went around in Delhi due to increasing tail winds and began the diversion to Lucknow with 3396kg/7480lbs of fuel. At Lucknow while 17nm from the runway ATC informed the crew that the runway visibility had dropped to 475 meters RVR (600 meters required) and was further reducing to 275 meters, the crew discontinued the approach and climbed to 4000 feet. When the fuel remaining reached 1260kg/2775lbs the crew declared minimum fuel and at 1100kg/2423lbs declared emergency. The crew decided to divert to Kanpur but subsequently decided to divert to Allahabad due to enroute weather. The aircraft climbed to FL100 when ATC informed the crew Lucknow was now showing 600 meters RVR and a few seconds later the RVR had increased to 1000 meters. The aircraft was 37nm from Lucknow and 58nm from Allahabad at that time, the crew decided to return to Lucknow and landed on runway 27. The aircraft landed with 260kg/572lbs of fuel remaining on board.

The DGCA stated that after the facts were established the crew was cleared to resume flying duties "without prejudice on the outcome of the final investigation report".

The airline stated the crew initiated a diversion to Lucknow due to bad weather in Delhi. While on approach to Lucknow the visibility suddenly dropped making a safe landing impossible. The crew considered to divert to Kanpur and Allahabad, then diverted to Allahabad. Enroute to Allahabad ATC informed the crew about a significant improvement of weather in Lucknow, the crew decided to return to Lucknow. The airline said: "The unexpected drop in visibility at the destination alternate was the main reason why the aircraft ended up in a low-fuel situation despite carrying excess fuel over and above the required Flight Plan Fuel as per regulations."

Metars Delhi:
VIDP 151230Z 10007KT 2800 BR SCT030 FEW035CB OVC080 26/24 Q0997 TEMPO 28020G30KT 1500 TSRA=
VIDP 151200Z 09008KT 2800 BR SCT030 FEW035CB OVC080 25/24 Q0998 TEMPO 28020G30KT 1500 TSRA=
VIDP 151130Z 07009KT 2800 BR SCT030 FEW040CB OVC080 24/24 Q0999 TEMPO 28020G30KT 1500 TSRA=
VIDP 151100Z 32008G18KT 2500 -RA SCT030 FEW040CB OVC080 23/23 Q0999 TEMPO 28020G30KT 1500 TSRA=
VIDP 151030Z 09005KT 1000 R28/P2000 R29/P2000 -TSRA SCT030 FEW040CB OVC080 23/22 Q0999 TEMPO 28020G30KT 1500 TSRA=
VIDP 151000Z 27020G30KT 0500 R28/1300 R29/1000 SHRA SCT030 FEW040CB OVC080 27/25 Q1000 TEMPO 28020G30KT TSRA=
VIDP 150930Z 30008KT 2500 DU SCT030 FEW040CB OVC080 33/23 Q0998 TEMPO 29020G30KT 1500 TSRA=
VIDP 150900Z 32007KT 2500 DU SCT030 FEW040CB OVC080 33/24 Q0998 TEMPO 29020G30KT 1500 TSRA=
VIDP 150830Z 30007KT 010V240 2500 DU SCT030 FEW040CB OVC080 34/23 Q0998 TEMPO 29020G30KT 1500 TSRA=
VIDP 150800Z 24008KT 3000 HZ SCT035 FEW040CB BKN100 36/23 Q0998 TEMPO 29020G30KT 1500 TSRA=

Metars Lucknow:
VILK 151430Z 15003KT 2500 BR BKN018 FEW030CB OVC090 24/23 Q0998 NOSIG=
VILK 151400Z 13005KT 2000 -TSRA BKN015 FEW030CB OVC090 24/22 Q0998 NOSIG=
VILK 151330Z 35010KT 2000 -TSRA BKN015 FEW030CB OVC090 24/21 Q0998 NOSIG=
VILK 151251Z 31011KT 0800 R27/1000 TSRA BKN015 FEW030CB OVC090 27/26 Q1000 NOSIG=
VILK 151230Z 05004KT 3500 HZ SCT020 FEW030CB BKN100 33/26 Q0997 TEMPO 1500 RA TSRA=
VILK 151130Z 05004KT 4000 HZ SCT020 FEW030CB BKN100 34/26 Q0996 NOSIG=
VILK 151100Z 06005KT 4000 HZ SCT020 FEW030CB BKN100 34/25 Q0996 NOSIG=
VILK 151030Z 32003KT 5000 HZ SCT020 SCT025 BKN100 35/26 Q0997 NOSIG=
VILK 151000Z VRB02KT 5000 HZ SCT020 SCT025 BKN100 35/26 Q0997 NOSIG=
VILK 150930Z 22003KT 5000 HZ SCT020 SCT025 BKN100 34/26 Q0998 NOSIG=
VILK 150900Z VRB02KT 5000 HZ SCT020 SCT025 BKN100 35/27 Q0998 NOSIG=
VILK 150830Z VRB02KT 5000 HZ SCT020 SCT025 BKN100 35/25 Q0998 NOSIG=
VILK 150800Z 26004KT 5000 HZ SCT020 SCT025 BKN100 34/25 Q0998 NOSIG=
Incident Facts

Date of incident
Jul 15, 2019

Classification
Incident

Airline
Vistara Airlines

Flight number
UK-944

Departure
Mumbai, India

Destination
Delhi, India

Aircraft Registration
VT-TNH

Aircraft Type
Airbus A320-200N

ICAO Type Designator
A20N

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