Edelweiss A320 at Zurich on Oct 27th 2023, rejected takeoff

Last Update: December 12, 2024 / 11:24:00 GMT/Zulu time

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Incident Facts

Date of incident
Oct 27, 2023

Classification
Incident

Cause
Rejected takeoff

Airline
Edelweiss Air

Flight number
8R-298

Departure
Zurich, Switzerland

Destination
Faro, Portugal

Aircraft Registration
HB-IHY

Aircraft Type
Airbus A320

ICAO Type Designator
A320

Airport
Zürich Airport, Zurich

Airport ICAO Code
LSZH

An Edelweiss Air Airbus A320-200, registration HB-IHY performing flight 8R-298 from Zurich (Switzerland) to Faro (Portugal), was accelerating for takeoff from Zurich's runway 32 when the crew rejected takeoff at high speed (about 140 knots over ground). The aircraft slowed, vacated the runway and taxied to a remote stand.

The rotation was cancelled.

Passengers reported during acceleration the aircraft suddenly started to shake left and right with loose items thrown through the cabin, subsequently the brakes came on, a tyre burst while the aircraft slowed down. The aircraft vacated the runway, the passengers disembarked via stairs onto the apron and were taken to the terminal. They were asked to rebook their flight.

The airline reported during acceleration the aircraft showed an abnormal behaviour prompting the pilots to reject takeoff. During deceleration a tyre burst. Data are being assessed to determine the abnormal behaviour.

The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground until Nov 3rd 2023 (7 days).

On May 10th 2024 Switzerland's SUST announced, they have opened an investigation into the serious incident stating that during the takeoff roll, shortly before reaching V1, the aircraft significantly veered off the runway center line to the left, the takeoff was rejected.

An investigation, conducted by the airline internally and leaked to Swiss Media, reported that a high acceleration event like high lateral or vertical generates a "Load Report 15" printout while in the air or during touchdown, however, not during takeoff even if the limits (0.42G lateral acceleration) are exceeded. Hence the crew remains the only sensor for high loads on gear or fuselage.

The aircraft had been cleared for takeoff: "Wind 250 degrees, 13 gusting 18 knots, runway 32, cleared for takeoff". The takeoff run was normal until about 140 KIAS, when the aircraft abruptly pulled to the left and came as close as a few meters to the left runway edge. The captain rejected takeoff, steered the aircraft back onto the center line and brought the aircraft to a stop about 1100 meters/3600 feet short of the runway end. The first officer was pilot flying, up to about 140 KIAS the aircraft maintained the runway centerline, when just below V1 a small left rudder input was done, the subsequent corrective pedal input would have been needed to the right however the left rudder input gradually increased to maximum deflection together with left brake inputs reaching 740 psi brake pressure about 2 seconds after the first left pedal input. At that point takeoff was rejected, autobrakes activated, right rudder input began, the lateral acceleration reached a maximum of 0.53G, a maximum deviation from the runway axis of 11-12 degrees was reached, about 4 seconds after the first left pedal input maximum rudder deflection to the right was reached, 5 seconds after the first left pedal input the aircraft returned onto the runway centerline and slowed coming to a stop 26 seconds after the first left pedal input, park brakes came on 29 seconds after the first left pedal input.

The internal investigation found the occurrence had similiarities/was almost identical with events in Amsterdam 2007, see Report: British Midland A319 at Amsterdam on Apr 18th 2007, rapid yaw during takeoff, liftoff below V1, in New York 2019, see Accident: American A321 at New York on Apr 10th 2019, wingtip strike and collision with runway sign during departure, and in Kavala 2021, see Accident: Condor A320 at Kavala on Jul 11th 2021, could not retract landing gear.

The internal investigation thanked their flight crew for openly and honestly reporting to and supporting the investigation as well as Condor who after the occurrence in Zurich contacted Edelweiss openly with their findings of their 2021 occurrence.

The internal investigation summarized the testimony of the first officer stating, that in the initial phase takeoff was entirely normal, he needed to correct for the crosswind with the right rudder pedal. Shortly before reaching V1 he had the impression to need correct to the left slightly. When the aircraft responded to the left a slight counter correction was needed however he stepped further into the left pedal causing the aircraft to veer even more left. He corrected more and more, still with the left pedal, until he realized what he was doing and started to step into the right pedal, when the captain called "I have controls", rejected takeoff and returned the aircraft onto the center line.

Metars:
LSZH 271650Z 26005KT 9999 FEW034 12/06 Q1000 NOSIG=
LSZH 271620Z 24007KT 9999 FEW034 12/07 Q1000 NOSIG=
LSZH 271550Z 26010KT 230V300 9999 FEW035 13/07 Q1000 NOSIG=
LSZH 271520Z 25014KT 9999 FEW035 14/07 Q1000 NOSIG=
LSZH 271450Z 25013KT 9999 FEW035 SCT060 14/07 Q1000 NOSIG=
LSZH 271420Z 25009KT 9999 FEW035 SCT050 14/08 Q1000 NOSIG=
LSZH 271350Z 24011KT 9999 FEW035 SCT050 14/08 Q1000 NOSIG=
LSZH 271320Z 25010KT 210V280 9999 FEW030 SCT050 14/07 Q1000 NOSIG=
LSZH 271250Z 25014G24KT 220V280 9999 VCSH FEW025 BKN050 14/08 Q1000 NOSIG=
LSZH 271220Z 25011KT 230V290 9999 VCSH FEW026 SCT045 14/09 Q1000 NOSIG=
LSZH 271150Z 26012KT 230V290 9999 FEW020 SCT040 13/09 Q1000 NOSIG=
LSZH 271120Z 26010KT 9999 VCSH SCT022 SCT055 12/09 Q1000 NOSIG=
LSZH 271050Z 25009KT 9999 -SHRA SCT022 BKN045 11/09 Q1001 TEMPO SHRA=
LSZH 271020Z 26008KT 9999 VCSH SCT022 BKN040 12/09 Q1001 TEMPO SHRA=
Aircraft Registration Data
Registration mark
HB-IHY
Country of Registration
Switzerland
Date of Registration
Jgh bdjjdfjelqqbd Subscribe to unlock
Certification Basis
FbcjAk Subscribe to unlock
Airworthyness Category
FqbdifidicgbAldf Subscribe to unlock
Legal Basis
CAed Subscribe to unlock
TCDS Ident. No.
Mkkphii ed Subscribe to unlock
Manufacturer
AIRBUS INDUSTRIE
Aircraft Model / Type
A320-214
ICAO Aircraft Type
A320
Year of Manufacture
LbnA Subscribe to unlock
Serial Number
Gii Subscribe to unlock
Aircraft Address / Mode S Code (HEX)
Enkcfe Subscribe to unlock
Max. Operational Passenger Seating Capacity (MOPSC), indicative
Qkc Subscribe to unlock
Minimum Crew
J Subscribe to unlock
Maximum Take off Mass (MTOM) [kg]
gggh Subscribe to unlock
Engine Count
L Subscribe to unlock
Engine
CiAAhhhkbe eegjmgdifnqjknde Afnc mqnqgA Subscribe to unlock
Main Owner
J Subscribe to unlock
Main Operator
CbhhnicejcpdkieAbAlgifmcnbqm dfpfmhjbdefmncAnhkAf Subscribe to unlock
Incident Facts

Date of incident
Oct 27, 2023

Classification
Incident

Cause
Rejected takeoff

Airline
Edelweiss Air

Flight number
8R-298

Departure
Zurich, Switzerland

Destination
Faro, Portugal

Aircraft Registration
HB-IHY

Aircraft Type
Airbus A320

ICAO Type Designator
A320

Airport
Zürich Airport, Zurich

Airport ICAO Code
LSZH

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