Ural A320 at Omsk and enroute on Sep 12th 2023, hydraulic failure, ran out of fuel, forced landing in a field
Last Update: April 11, 2024 / 18:25:20 GMT/Zulu time
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Sep 12, 2023
Classification
Accident
Airline
Ural Airlines
Flight number
U6-1383
Departure
Sochi, Russia
Destination
Omsk, Russia
Aircraft Registration
RA-73805
Aircraft Type
Airbus A320
ICAO Type Designator
A320
Russia's Rostransnador reported the aircraft carried out an unplanned landing safely near the village of Kamenka (180km from Novosibirsk), there were no injuries.
The governor of Omsk reported the crew reported a hydraulic problem affecting the brakes, they were concerned the aircraft would not be able to stop on the runway. The crew therefore diverted to Novosibirsk where longer runways (length 3,600 meters/11,800 feet) are available sufficient to stop the aircraft despite the hydraulics failure. According to computations there should have been sufficient fuel on board to reach the aerodrome.
The West Siberian Investigative Committee opened an investigation stating the occurrence happened due to technical reasons.
The airline reported the green hydraulics system failed on approach to Omsk. The commander decided to divert to an airfield with longer runways, the failure of the green hydraulic system affected operation of spoilers and flaps and increased the landing distance needed. However, the landing gear doors remained open as result of the hydraulic failure and could not be closed. Together with strong headwinds this increased the fuel consumption. The commander realized they could not make it to Novosibirsk and decided to land in an open field with the gear extended. 6 busses have been dispatched to the landing site and take the passengers to Omsk and Novosibirsk. The passengers were supplied with food, water and chargers for mobile phones, the luggage has been handed to the passengers, too.
ADS-B Data suggest that the aircraft began the diversion almost instantly after the go around, but maintained a low speed throughout the remainder of the flight reaching a maximum of 260 knots over ground at FL180, the aircraft did not climb above FL180.
On Sep 13th 2023 The Aviation Herald received information, that on final approach about 1 minute prior to estimated touch down the crew initiated a go around in Omsk due to the failure of the green hydraulic system, during the go around the crew was able to somehow retract the landing gear (editorial note: ?? How?), however, the gear doors remained open imposing a fuel penalty of about 25%. The crew decided to divert to Novosibirsk, based on their computations for landing distance required and the fuel computations for the diversion to Novosibirsk. While enroute to Novosibirsk about 45 minutes into the diversion they received a fuel imbalance associated with a sharp drop in fuel quantity remaining now indicating only 46 minutes of fuel left, declared emergency at 09:23L (05:23Z, editorial note: on ADS-B the emergency transponder signal activated at 05:26Z). The crew subsequently began to look out for possible landing sites, manually released the landing gear and performed a successful touch down at 09:44L (05:44Z). The causes for the sharp drop in fuel quantity are under investigation. Investigations also focus on the decision to divert to Novosibirsk, it appears on first look as if the landing distance available in Omsk would have been sufficient.
According to the flight plan the aircraft departed Sochi with 13,787kg of fuel including 9,161kg of trip fuel to Omsk, 2,618kg of fuel to one of the alternate aerodromes Novosibirsk or Tyumen, 1,150kg of holding fuel, 458kg of contingency fuel and 400 kg additional fuel. When the crew decided to divert to Novosibirsk they told air traffic control, they estimated 900kg of fuel remaining in Novosibirsk, which is below the required minimum fuel reserve (but suggests, the crew had factored 25% of fuel penalty in). According to the airline the aircraft initiated the diversion with 4200kg of fuel on board.
On Sep 14th 2023 investigators summarized the interview with the captain of the flight stating, that the aircraft had been inspected without any anomalies for departure from Moscow Domodedovo towards Sochi. The flight from Sochi had been normal until final approach into Omsk. The winds were gusting in Omsk, the aircraft was heavy, so that the commander decided to not take the risk of trying to land in Omsk and decided to take the aircraft to Novosibirsk. During the go around a hydraulic failure occurred after gear retraction, green hydraulic pressure was lost after gear retracted, the nose gear doors remained open as result of insufficient hydraulic pressure. They computed the fuel and found they should have about 1200kg of fuel left in Novosibirsk. While in flight to Novosibirsk the fuel quantity suddenly began to critically decrease, the crew declared emergency, instructed cabin crew to prepare for an emergency landing and began to look out for a suitable landing field. When only about 5 minutes of fuel was left they spotted the landing site and landed the aircraft there successfully, only the nose gear was fractured.
On Sep 15th 2023 the airline reported, that following the go-around the crew was monitoring their fuel usage which was fine. Only after crossing the point of no-return to Omsk the fuel quantity suddenly began to critically decrease about 70nm short of their top of descent. The crew did not wait until fuel was exhausted but began to immediately prepare for an emergency landing, spotted the landing site from the aircraft when only 5 minutes of fuel was left and landed with 200kg of fuel remaining.
On Sep 17th 2023 the airline announced, that the aircraft is going to fly again soon.
On Sep 17th 2023 local observers reported, that the aircraft has been cleaned, all slides stowed, the doors closed, the engines have been covered, the landing gear was dug out of the ditches and cleaned, and it appears the aircraft is made ready to fly out again.
On Sep 26th 2023 Rosaviatsia reported during the final approach to Omsk, while extending the landing gear, there had been a green hydraulic failure prompting the crew to initiate a go around. The landing gear lever was placed into the up position, but the landing gear did not retract according to the FDR data, the failure of the gear retraction however was not noticed by the crew. While holding near Omsk the crew calculated the landing distance and calculated the fuel needed to divert to the alternate aerodrome followed by the decision to divert to Novosibirsk. While enroute to Novosibirsk the crew detected the increased fuel consumption and lack of fuel to reach Novosibirsk, selected a landing site from the air and landed there with 216 liters of fuel remaining. The failure of the hydraulic system occurred due to a fractured hose in the control line of the right main landing gear door.
On Nov 9th 2023 Rosaviatsia cancelled the report (see paragraph above) stating that new facts have emerged. A new investigation commission was appointed to conduct the investigation into the occurrence. Russian media are reporting, that while officially newly discovered facts are being cited as reason for the cancellation of the previously released report, the administration of Rosaviatsia ordered the new investigation due to the quality (or lack of) of the investigation so far.
On Apr 11th 2024 the airline stated that they have given up all plans to get the accident aircraft airborne again. Instead, the aircraft will be used for spare parts of other aircraft in their fleet and will be dismantled on the field. Two long term managers of the airline, 31 and 24 years working for the airline, have been dismissed as result of the accident and a new report by Rosaviatsia due to "deficiencies in ensuring flight safety, organizing flight work and professional training of flight crew members at the airline" as the reasons for the lack of training of pilots to act in a complicated situation. The report also highlighted the unsatisfactory level of professional preparedness by the flight crew like insufficient system knowledge and crew interaction as well as incorrect calculation of landing characteristics like required fuel. The crew performance was disorganized and inconsistent, the crew did not detect the landing gear had not retracted although the sensors were all indicating the gear was still fully extended, the crew did not consider to return to Omsk at all, although weather conditions and length of runway would have permitted a return. The unreasonable decision by the commander to divert to Novosibirsk did not take into account the landing gears' positions and thus lacked 5.6 tons of fuel to reach Novosibirsk. In an interview with Rosaviatsia the commander stated that the airline had recommended to divert to an airfield with trained maintenance available if a malfunction occurs, the closest such airfield to Omsk was Novosibirsk. This recommendation was removed by the airline following the accident.
Metars Omsk:
UNOO 120300Z 07010MPS 9999 SCT040 11/04 Q1007 R07/CLRD60 NOSIG RMK QFE747=
UNOO 120230Z 06009MPS 9999 SCT040 10/04 Q1007 R07/CLRD60 NOSIG RMK QFE747=
UNOO 120200Z 06009MPS 9999 SCT040 09/04 Q1007 R07/CLRD60 NOSIG RMK QFE747=
UNOO 120130Z 06009MPS 9999 SCT040 08/04 Q1007 R07/CLRD60 NOSIG RMK QFE747=
UNOO 120100Z 06009MPS 9999 SCT040 08/04 Q1007 WS R07 R07/CLRD60 NOSIG RMK QFE747=
UNOO 120030Z 06008MPS 9999 SCT040 08/04 Q1007 R07/CLRD60 NOSIG RMK QFE747=
UNOO 120000Z 06008MPS 9999 SCT040 09/04 Q1007 R07/CLRD60 NOSIG RMK QFE746=
UNOO 112330Z 06008MPS 9999 SCT040 09/05 Q1007 R07/CLRD60 NOSIG RMK QFE747=
UNOO 112300Z 06007MPS 9999 SCT040 09/05 Q1007 R07/CLRD60 NOSIG RMK QFE747=
UNOO 112230Z 06008MPS 9999 SCT040 10/05 Q1007 R07/CLRD60 NOSIG RMK QFE747=
UNOO 112200Z 06008MPS 9999 SCT040 10/06 Q1007 R07/CLRD60 NOSIG RMK QFE747=
Aircraft Registration Data
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Sep 12, 2023
Classification
Accident
Airline
Ural Airlines
Flight number
U6-1383
Departure
Sochi, Russia
Destination
Omsk, Russia
Aircraft Registration
RA-73805
Aircraft Type
Airbus A320
ICAO Type Designator
A320
This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
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