COPA B738 at Panama City on Sep 25th 2022, runway excursion on landing

Last Update: October 28, 2022 / 18:56:22 GMT/Zulu time

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Photo of Copa Airlines HP-1539CMP, Boeing 737-800 — Copa Airlines HP-1539CMP, Boeing 737-800 (Photo credit: wiltshirespotter / Flickr / License: CC by-sa)

Incident Facts

Date of incident
Sep 25, 2022

Classification
Accident

Cause
Runway excursion on landing

Airline
Copa Airlines

Flight number
CM-135

Departure
Mexico City, Mexico

Destination
Panama City, Panama

Aircraft Registration
HP-1539CMP

Aircraft Type
Boeing 737-800

ICAO Type Designator
B738

Airport
Tocumen International Airport, Tocumen

Airport ICAO Code
MPTO

A COPA Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration HP-1539CMP performing flight CM-135 from Mexico City (Mexico) to Panama City (Panama) with 159 passengers and 7 crew, landed on Panama City's runway 03R at 21:12L (02:12Z Sep 26th), in the flare drifted towards the right hand edge of the runway, touched down inside the touch down zone and runway, then veered to the left and went past the left edge of the runway crossing the runway edge at about 110 knots over ground. The aircraft continued parallel to the runway, crossed a high speed turn off beginning to correct towards the runway but came to a stop about 2200 meters/7200 feet down the runway and about 21 meters/70 feet to the left of the left runway edge. The aircraft was evacuated via slides. There were no injuries.

The airport reported the aircraft suffered a mishap during landing. No serious injuries were being reported, emergency protocols were immediately activated, the airport was closed. Panama's Civil Aviation Authority opened an investigation.

The airline reported the aircraft went off the runway upon landing, no injuries were reported.

Panama's Civil Aviation Authority reported an investigation has been opened, personnel to collect the necessary information to conduct the investigation remain at the airport while resources to move the aircraft to the apron are being deployed.

Tropical Storm Ian passed Panama City about 380nm north of the airport, according to the USA National Hurricane Center there was no influence onto Panama City.

On Oct 28th 2022 the Oficina de investigacion de Accidentes Aereos de Panama (OFINVAA) that according to crew testimony thrust reverser #2 had been inop under minimum equipment list requirements. If the runway was wet and in case of an asymmetry the thrust reverser #1 would not be used. They performed an approach according to standard operating procedures, upon touchdown they felt a different sensation however with vibrations like if a tyre had burst, the aircraft developed a strong yaw to the left. The crew applied right hand rudder without success and activated the thrust reverser on the #1 engine, also to no avail. Near taxiway Q the aircraft went off the runway. After coming to a stop the crew analysed the situation, perceived a strong burning odour, the nose gear was collapsed, they decided to shut the engines down, start the APU and perform an evacuation. OFINVAA confirmed the aircraft had been dispatched under MEL with the #2 thrust reverser inop. No other reports of other system malfunctions had been recorded in the previous days.

The OFINVAA further wrote:

A detailed inspection of the aircraft revealed the presence of soil and vegetation at the slat and cowling joints, a collapsed nose gear, both turbines with multiple fractures in the fan blades, and vegetation ingestion.

Within the inspection of runway 03R of the aerodrome, the tracks left by the aircraft in contact with the runway were identified and then in the green area until after the Quebec intersection, where the aircraft stopped due to nose gear collapse.

Related NOTAMs:
A0882/22 NOTAMN
Q) MPZL/QFALC/IV/NBO/A/000/999/0904N07923W005
A) MPTO B) 2209260239 C) 2209261000
E) AP CLSD

A0884/22 NOTAMN
Q) MPZL/QMRLC/IV/NBO/A/000/999/0904N07923W005
A) MPTO B) 2209260337 C) 2209261400
E) RWY 03R/21L CLSD

A0885/22 NOTAMR A0884/22
Q) MPZL/QMRLC/IV/NBO/A/000/999/0904N07923W005
A) MPTO B) 2209260337 C) 2209272300
E) RWY 03R/21L CLSD

A0879/22 NOTAMN
Q) MPZL/QMRLC/IV/NBO/A/000/999/0904N07923W005
A) MPTO B) 2209280430 C) 2210010930
D) 0430-0930 DLY
E) RWY 03R/21L CLSD

Metars:
MPTO 260500Z 35008KT 8000 -TSRA SCT007 SCT016CB BKN080 23/22 Q1011 TEMPO 6000=
MPTO 260433Z 34012KT 5000 TSRA SCT007 SCT015CB BKN080 24/22 Q1010 TEMPO 3000=
COR MPTO 260400Z 31009KT 2000 +TSRA SCT006 SCT012CB BKN070 24/22 Q1010 TEMPO 5000=
MPTO 260300Z 29008KT 8000 TSRA SCT007 SCT015CB BKN080 25/23 Q1009 TEMPO 6000=
MPTO 260213Z 11011KT 6000 TSRA SCT007 SCT016CB BKN080 25/24 Q1009 TEMPO 7000=
MPTO 260200Z 01003KT 9999 SCT017CB SCT090 26/24 Q1009 NOSIG=
MPTO 260100Z 07003KT 9999 SCT017CB SCT090 26/24 Q1008 NOSIG=
MPTO 260000Z 10004KT 9999 SCT018CB SCT090 27/24 Q1007 NOSIG=