Atlas B744 enroute on Jun 17th 2024, hydraulic failure

Last Update: July 16, 2024 / 17:18:30 GMT/Zulu time

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Incident Facts

Date of incident
Jun 17, 2024

Classification
Incident

Cause
Hydraulic failure

Airline
Atlas Air

Flight number
5Y-4304

Departure
Hong Kong, China

Destination
Anchorage, United States

Aircraft Registration
N406KZ

Aircraft Type
Boeing 747-400

ICAO Type Designator
B744

An Atlas Air Boeing 747-400, registration N406KZ performing flight 5Y-4304 from Hong Kong (China) to Anchorage,AK (USA), was enroute at FL310 near Tai
pei (Taiwan) when the crew decided to return to Hong Kong reporting a hydraulic failure. The aircraft landed on Hong Kong's runway 25R about 2 hours later but burst a number of tyres on landing and became disabled on the runway.

The airport reported the aircraft burst a tyre on landing and could not be moved due to a hydraulic problem for several hours. 186 flights were delayed.

On Jul 16th 2024 Hong Kong's AAIA released their preliminary report summarizing the sequence of events:

On 17 June 2024 at 04:09 am local time, an Atlas Air (ICAO1 code: GTI / IATA code: 5Y) Boeing 747-400F freighter, registration mark N406KZ, departed Hong Kong International Airport (VHHH) bound for Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (PANC) as flight GTI4304. The freighter carried a payload of 108 tons and 123.4 tons of fuel, with a total take-off weight of 393.1 tons. On board GTI4304, there were four crew members on the flight deck and one supernumerary crew positioned in the cabin.

The aircraft took off from runway 25L at VHHH. During the take-off roll, the crew experienced a slight yawing and shimmy sensation when the aircraft accelerated between 80kts and 100kts. However, in the absence of cockpit indications and other cues that would suggest the aircraft's flyability was compromised, the take-off continued normally with normal gear retraction.

About 26 minutes into the flight, an [HYD QTY SYS LOW 1] EICAS3 message appeared as the aircraft levelled off from its climb to an initial cruise level of Flight Level 2904. After following the appropriate checklist and consulting the Atlas Air's ground office, the pilot in command (PIC) made the operational decision to return to Hong Kong.

To meet landing weight limits, the crew subsequently initiated fuel jettison after coordinating with the HKG ATC, dumping approximately 80 tons of fuel.

A PAN-PAN call was made by GTI4304 during the approach into HKG, advising that the aircraft would require towing off the runway after landing due to the anticipated loss of the nose wheel steering amid the loss of hydraulic #1 system. GTI4304 was cleared for an ILS landing on runway 25R, which took place at 07:12 am local time. The landing was normal with no reported loss of directional control. However, the fluid in hydraulic systems #2 and #4 was quickly depleting to zero during the landing roll, accompanied by the corresponding EICAS messages.

Once the aircraft came to a stop on runway 25R, ATC relayed from the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) staff on site that there was smoke coming from the wheels. Confirming the brake temperatures were within the normal range and no other hazards were observed, the crew shut down the engines and waited for further assistance from the ground support personnel. Evacuation was not considered necessary.

Post-flight inspection indicated that #9 and #10 tires were shredded. Parts of #9 and #10 wheels were missing and significant damage was observed on #9 wheel. Several hydraulic lines located in the right-hand wing landing gear (RH WLG) wheel well were found fractured and punctured, and the fluid in hydraulic systems #1, #2 and #4 was completely lost. In addition, some damage was sustained by the lower forward fuselage, lower right wing sections and components/systems inside the wheel well.

Related NOTAMs:
A0914/24 NOTAMN
Q) VHHK/QMRXX/IV/NBO/A /000/999/2219N11355E005
A) VHHH B) 2406170211 C) 2406170500 EST
E) DUE TO DISABLED ACFT ON RUNWAY, GND STOP PROC IN FORCE FOR TFC
DEP
FM RCAA, INBD TO VHHH.
RMK: FLOW CONTROL WILL BE ADJUSTED SUBJECT TO SITUATION AND
DISCRETION OF HONG KONG ATS WATCH SUPERVISOR.

A0915/24 NOTAMR A0913/24
Q) VHHK/QMRXX/IV/NBO/A /000/999/2219N11355E005
A) VHHH B) 2406170257 C) 2406171000 EST
E) SINGLE SOUTH RUNWAY 25L IN USE, RUNWAY 07L/25R NOT AVBL DUE TO
DISABLED ACFT ON NORTH RUNWAY. ARR AND DEP TRAFFIC EXPECT DELAY.

A0916/24 NOTAMN
Q) VHHK/QPFCA/IV/NBO/A /000/999/2219N11355E005
A) VHHH B) 2406170334 C) 2406170500 EST
E) DUE TO DISABLED ACFT ON RUNWAY, 60 MIN FLOW CONTROL IN FORCE FOR
TFC
DEP FM EACH AD WI RCAA INBD TO VHHH.
RMK: FLOW CONTROL WILL BE ADJUSTED SUBJECT TO SITUATION AND
DISCRETION OF HONG KONG ATS WATCH SUPERVISOR

A0919/24 NOTAMN
Q) VHHK/QMRXX/IV/NBO/A /000/999/2219N11355E005
A) VHHH B) 2406170441 C) 2406171200 EST
E) DUE TO DISABLED ACFT ON RUNWAY, GND STOP PROC IN FORCE FOR TFC
DEP
FM RCAA, INBD TO VHHH.
RMK: FLOW CONTROL WILL BE ADJUSTED SUBJECT TO SITUATION AND
DISCRETION OF HONG KONG ATS WATCH SUPERVISOR.

A0920/24 NOTAMN
Q) VHHK/QPFCA/IV/NBO/A /000/999/2219N11355E005
A) VHHH B) 2406170526 C) 2406171200 EST
E) DUE TO DISABLED ACFT ON RUNWAY, GND STOP PROC IN FORCE FOR TFC
DEP
FM RPHI, INBD TO VHHH.
RMK: FLOW CONTROL WILL BE ADJUSTED SUBJECT TO SITUATION AND
DISCRETION OF HONG KONG ATS WATCH SUPERVISOR

A0922/24 NOTAMN
Q) VHHK/QPFCA/IV/NBO/A /000/999/2219N11355E005
A) VHHH B) 2406170532 C) 2406171200 EST
E) DUE TO DISABLED ACFT ON RUNWAY, GND STOP PROC IN FORCE FOR TFC
DEP
FM RCAA, INBD TO VHHH.
RMK: FLOW CONTROL WILL BE ADJUSTED SUBJECT TO SITUATION AND
DISCRETION OF HONG KONG ATS WATCH SUPERVISOR

A0923/24 NOTAMN
Q) VHHK/QMRXX/IV/NBO/A /000/999/2219N11355E005
A) VHHH B) 2406170546 C) 2406171000 EST
E) SINGLE SOUTH RUNWAY 25L IN USE, RUNWAY 07L/25R NOT AVBL DUE TO
DISABLED ACFT ON NORTH RUNWAY. ARR AND DEP TRAFFIC EXPECT DELAY.
Aircraft Registration Data
Registration mark
N406KZ
Country of Registration
United States
Date of Registration
Mglfqjlqeljff qh Subscribe to unlock
Manufacturer
BOEING
Aircraft Model / Type
747-400F
Number of Seats
H Subscribe to unlock
ICAO Aircraft Type
B744
Year of Manufacture
Ghel Subscribe to unlock
Serial Number
Hbqfd Subscribe to unlock
Aircraft Address / Mode S Code (HEX)
IgAipk Subscribe to unlock
Engine Count
N Subscribe to unlock
Engine Manufacturer
Gd Subscribe to unlock
Engine Model
Lpdghidlqindn Subscribe to unlock
Engine Type
Fiqjdcf q Subscribe to unlock
Pounds of Thrust
PjAi Subscribe to unlock
Main Owner
Bbclpncqdnk dqlnbghl qfpeekhhqlgimghfhlmefmeepcAmgchmefibcmpjnhqjcehmcfiqecggdbghkmmljj Subscribe to unlock
Incident Facts

Date of incident
Jun 17, 2024

Classification
Incident

Cause
Hydraulic failure

Airline
Atlas Air

Flight number
5Y-4304

Departure
Hong Kong, China

Destination
Anchorage, United States

Aircraft Registration
N406KZ

Aircraft Type
Boeing 747-400

ICAO Type Designator
B744

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