Kalitta B744 at Los Angeles on Feb 3rd 2020, rejected takeoff due to trash bin on runway

Last Update: January 7, 2022 / 15:30:20 GMT/Zulu time

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Incident Facts

Date of incident
Feb 3, 2020

Classification
Accident

Airline
Kalitta Air

Flight number
K4-368

Departure
Los Angeles, United States

Destination
Honolulu, United States

Aircraft Registration
N703CK

Aircraft Type
Boeing 747-400

ICAO Type Designator
B744

Airport
Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles

Airport ICAO Code
KLAX

A Kalitta Boeing 747-400, registration N703CK performing flight K4-368 from Los Angeles,CA to Honolulu,HI (USA) with 7 crew, was accelerating for takeoff from Los Angeles' runway 25R at about 03:06L (11:06Z) when the crew rejected takeoff at high speed (about 110 knots over ground) after colliding with an object on the runway. The aircraft slowed and stopped on the runway, the crew reported severe damage to the aircraft after hitting something big on the runway, they were considering to evacuate the aircraft and requested assistance to check the aircraft for damage and fire. Tower reported there was excessive smoke coming from the nose gear while slowing to a stop. Emergency services responded and found a trash bin, that had been blown onto the runway and had hit the nose gear of the 747. Both tyres of the nose gear had blown as result.

The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Los Angeles about 11 hours after the rejected takeoff.

A replacement Boeing 747-400 registration N741CK is estimated to reach Honolulu with a delay of 9 hours.

On Mar 20th 2020 the NTSB reported they have opened an investigation into the occurrence rated an accident, however, the investigators will not travel in support of the investigation.

On Jan 7th 2022 the NTSB released their final report concluding the probable cause of the accident was:

An unavoidable collision with a garbage dumpster that had blown into the path of the airplane during the takeoff roll.

The NTSB analysed:

The captain stated that he was the pilot flying and, during the takeoff roll on runway 25R, between 80 and 110 knots (V1 was 131 knots), he noticed a large object "moving right to left at a good speed". A fraction of a second later it passed under the nose and impacted the airplane. He said that the impact was loud, and the airplane "settled", followed by severe vibration in the airplane. He immediately rejected the takeoff and stopped on the runway.

At the time of the takeoff, winds were reported to be 15 knots, gusting to 28 knots, from 340 degrees.

Authorities at the Los Angeles World Airports determined that the object blown onto the runway was a garbage dumpster.

Metars:
KLAX 031253Z 35010G27KT 10SM FEW045 FEW150 12/M07 A2984 RMK AO2 PK WND 35029/1221 SLP101 T01171072=
KLAX 031153Z 34015G28KT 10SM FEW045 FEW150 12/M06 A2985 RMK AO2 PK WND 34030/1128 SLP105 T01171061 10161 20117 55002=
KLAX 031053Z 35016G24KT 10SM FEW040 FEW065 SCT150 12/M07 A2984 RMK AO2 PK WND 33030/1017 SLP101 T01221072=
KLAX 030953Z 34011G24KT 320V040 10SM SCT040 BKN050 BKN150 13/M06 A2985 RMK AO2 PK WND 36028/0942 SLP105 T01281061=
KLAX 030853Z 35014G24KT 10SM FEW020 BKN040 BKN050 BKN150 14/M07 A2985 RMK AO2 PK WND 34026/0842 SLP106 T01391072 50003=
KLAX 030753Z 33013G18KT 10SM FEW020 BKN040 BKN150 14/M08 A2986 RMK AO2 PK WND 01027/0706 SLP108 T01441083 401940117=
KLAX 030653Z 35011G23KT 10SM FEW020 FEW050 SCT150 15/M08 A2986 RMK AO2 PK WND 01027/0621 SLP109 T01501083=
Aircraft Registration Data
Registration mark
N703CK
Country of Registration
United States
Date of Registration
Akqnnkcm fgnnmkmb Subscribe to unlock
Manufacturer
BOEING
Aircraft Model / Type
747-412
Number of Seats
bp Subscribe to unlock
ICAO Aircraft Type
B744
Year of Manufacture
Flfc Subscribe to unlock
Serial Number
Aline Subscribe to unlock
Aircraft Address / Mode S Code (HEX)
MAehhl Subscribe to unlock
Engine Count
Q Subscribe to unlock
Engine Manufacturer
Jlchmllcm Subscribe to unlock
Engine Model
Kiplng Subscribe to unlock
Engine Type
Qmcnnk ck Subscribe to unlock
Pounds of Thrust
Dciih Subscribe to unlock
Main Owner
Nlkpekcnqjebde pbbAikfdmdpjbnm flcch qdnmdnfflnnkAqcgnhhkbAhkkimbcqmiechAmbnf Subscribe to unlock
Incident Facts

Date of incident
Feb 3, 2020

Classification
Accident

Airline
Kalitta Air

Flight number
K4-368

Departure
Los Angeles, United States

Destination
Honolulu, United States

Aircraft Registration
N703CK

Aircraft Type
Boeing 747-400

ICAO Type Designator
B744

Airport
Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles

Airport ICAO Code
KLAX

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