Austrian E195 at Warsaw on Jan 6th 2020, flaps problems

Last Update: January 7, 2020 / 22:14:37 GMT/Zulu time

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Photo of Austrian Airlines OE-LWI, Embraer ERJ-195 — Austrian Airlines OE-LWI, Embraer ERJ-195 (Photo credit: Riik@mctr / Flickr / License: CC by-sa)

Incident Facts

Date of incident
Jan 6, 2020

Classification
Incident

Cause
Flaps problem

Airline
Austrian Airlines

Flight number
OS-631

Departure
Vienna, Austria

Destination
Warsaw, Poland

Aircraft Registration
OE-LWI

Aircraft Type
Embraer ERJ-195

ICAO Type Designator
E195

An Austrian Airlines Embraer ERJ-195, registration OE-LWI performing flight OS-631 from Vienna (Austria) to Warsaw (Poland) with 110 passengers and 5 crew, was on approach to Warsaw's runway 33 descending through about 3000 feet when the crew aborted the approach and climbed to 5000 feet due to a problem with the flaps. The aircraft entered a hold while working the checklists, the crew advised they were experiencing moderate icing and requested to descend. The aircraft descended to 4000 feet, subsequently wsa vectored for the approach to runway 33 again, the crew advised they were limited in bank angle and might overshoot the localizer. After established on the localizer the crew advised they again had the problem with the flaps and aborted the approach a second time still maintaining 4000 feet. The crew considered a diversion to Warsaw's Modlin Airport and checked the weather there, but then decided to approach the destination Chopin Airport again, advising they were landing at a higher than normal speed and requested services in the stand by positions for their approach to runway 33, they'd need a landing distance available of about 2200 meters, tower advised landing distance available on runway 33 was 3090 meters/10100 feet), they were still limited with the bank angle and needed wider turns. The aircraft landed safely on runway 33 at a higher than normal speed (about 160 knots over ground) about 45 minutes after the first aborted approach.

Two passengers reported independently that the aircraft went around and entered a hold for about 30 minutes, the captain subsequently announced the delay was due to a problem with the flaps extension. They had worked the related checklists, re-calculated the landing performance and would land shortly. One passenger reported the flaps were not in the landing position. The aircraft landed and was received by fire engines and ambulances. The aircraft stopped on the runway for a quick check by emergency services, then taxied to a remote stand where the passengers disembarked normally.

The return flight OS-632 was cancelled.

The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground in Warsaw for 24 hours, then positioned to Vienna as flight OS-1474.