SAA A333 enroute on Oct 27th 2024, pitch oscillations
Last Update: January 8, 2025 / 19:28:10 GMT/Zulu time
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Oct 27, 2024
Classification
Incident
Airline
SAA South African Airways
Flight number
SA-314
Departure
Cape Town, South Africa
Destination
Johannesburg, South Africa
Aircraft Registration
ZS-SXJ
Aircraft Type
Airbus A330-300
ICAO Type Designator
A333
South Africa's CAA reported on Jan 8th 2025: "While en-route to WMKJ (Editorial note: Senai, Malaysia) at flight level (FL) 410, the aircraft began to oscillate between pitch-up and pitch-down movements, slowly gaining momentum. The co-pilot, who was the pilot flying (PF), immediately noticed the speed trend vector increasing to approximately 40 knots into the overspeed (red barber pole) protection area. To prevent an overspeed event, the autopilot (AP) was immediately disconnected, and the aircraft was gently pitched down to approximately 1.5 to 2 degrees (Editorial note: ?), which stopped the speed acceleration (Editorial note: ???). The speed trend vector then indicated a trend toward the vertical indicator/vertical protection (Vls/Vprot) range, as the aircraft descended (???), showing a similar 40 to 50-knot change in the speed trend vector. The PF instructed the pilot monitoring (PM) to request a descent from the Air Traffic Control Officer (ATCO) to vacate the flight level and increase the margins between the high and low-speed protections. The PM turned the seatbelt sign to ON and requested a descent to FL390. The aircraft descended to FL390 without further incident. The aircraft diverted to O R Tambo International Airport (FAOR). This oscillation, followed by the rapid approach of the speed trend vector to the overspeed and vertical indicators, occurred within just a few seconds. There was no indication of turbulence on the synoptic charts or in the Aviation Routine Weather Report (ARMS) predictions. Meanwhile, the cabin crew were conducting a breakfast service, and plastic containers from the breakfast trays slid off the passenger chair trays, causing Uood to scatter throughout the back economy section of the aircraft. Food and beverages were scattered from the trolleys too. "
According to flight plan, flight SA-314 always was scheduled to fly from Cape Town to Johannesburg. It would also be amazing to see an A330-300 at FL410 that early for such a long distance flight to Malaysia.
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Oct 27, 2024
Classification
Incident
Airline
SAA South African Airways
Flight number
SA-314
Departure
Cape Town, South Africa
Destination
Johannesburg, South Africa
Aircraft Registration
ZS-SXJ
Aircraft Type
Airbus A330-300
ICAO Type Designator
A333
This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
Article source
You can read 2 more free articles without a subscription.
Subscribe now and continue reading without any limits!
Read unlimited articles and receive our daily update briefing. Gain better insights into what is happening in commercial aviation safety.
Send tip
Support AeroInside by sending a small tip amount.
Related articles
Fleet type match
SAA A346 over Switzerland on Nov 6th 2018, overspeed, dual ADR failure
A SAA South African Airways Airbus A340-600, registration ZS-SNF performing flight SA-260 (dep Nov 5th) from Johannesburg (South Africa) to…
Fleet type match
SAA A333 over Botswana on Apr 15th 2022, both engines surged until landing Johannesburg
A South African Airways Airbus A330-300, registration ZS-SXM performing flight SA-9053 from Accra (Ghana) to Johannesburg (South Africa) with 184…
Fleet type match
SAA A346 at Johannesburg on Feb 25th 2021, Alpha Floor Activation on departure
A SAA South African Airways Airbus A340-600, registration ZS-SNG performing flight SA-4272 (scheduled Feb 24th, actual dep Feb 25th) from…
Fleet type match
SAA A320 at Port Elizabeth on Feb 17th 2020, fumes in cabin
A SAA South African Airways Airbus A320-200, registration ZS-SZD performing flight SA-405 from Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth (South Africa), was on…
SAA A319 at Johannesburg on Oct 30th 2019, bird strike
A SAA South African Airways Airbus A319-100, registration ZS-SFK performing flight SA-143 from Maputo (Mozambique) to Johannesburg (South Africa),…
Newest articles
Fleet type match
Wizz A21N at Krakow on Jan 2nd 2025, cleared to land and landed on occupied runway
A Wizz Air Airbus A321-200N, registration 9H-WBI performing flight W6-2068 from Milan Malpensa (Italy) to Krakow (Poland), was cleared to land and…
DHL Expreso B763 at Bogota on Dec 8th 2024, rejected takeoff
A DHL Aero Expreso Boeing 767-300 freighter, registration HP-3310DAE performing flight D5-926 from Bogota (Colombia) to Miami,FL (USA), was…
Subscribe today
Are you researching aviation incidents? Get access to AeroInside Insights, unlimited read access and receive the daily newsletter.
Pick your plan and subscribePartner
A new way to document and demonstrate airworthiness compliance and aircraft value. Find out more.
ELITE Simulation Solutions is a leading global provider of Flight Simulation Training Devices, IFR training software as well as flight controls and related services. Find out more.
SafetyScan Pro provides streamlined access to thousands of aviation accident reports. Tailored for your safety management efforts. Book your demo today
AeroInside Blog
Popular aircraft
Airbus A320Boeing 737-800
Boeing 737-800 MAX
Popular airlines
American AirlinesUnited
Delta
Air Canada
Lufthansa
British Airways