Qantas B734 at Melbourne on Nov 22nd 2011, false takeoff speeds
Last Update: May 25, 2012 / 18:59:46 GMT/Zulu time
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Nov 22, 2011
Airline
Qantas
Flight number
QF-608
Departure
Melbourne, Australia
Destination
Brisbane, Australia
Aircraft Registration
VH-TJL
Aircraft Type
Boeing 737-400
ICAO Type Designator
B734
After push back and engine started ATIS was updated now indicating runway 16 was in use for departures, the crew thus began to plan a departure from runway 16 at intersection E with 2345 meters/7690 feet of TakeOff Distance Available (full length TODA 3657 meters/12000 feet). Using his electronic flight bag the first officer, pilot flying, computed the takeoff performance figures but inadvertently used the full length runway data, which were the default value in the input field. After doing the computations he handed the EFB to the captain, who computed the takeoff performance data again but also inadvertently used the default full length runway data. As that way the results of both computations, V1=166 KIAS, VR=171 KIAS, V2=174 KIAS, were the same, the crew did not detect the error, correct data would have been V1=147 KIAS, Vr=149 KIAS and V2=156 KIAS.
The crew subsequently taxied to the runway, entered the runway at taxiway E and was cleared for takeoff.
While the aircraft accelerated below 80 knots no problems were apparent. Above 80 knots the captain became aware something was wrong and instructed the first officer to rotate prior to the computed Vr and prior to V1. The aircraft lifted off at 165 knots as a result, climbed away normally and landed safely in Brisbane.
The ATSB released their bulletin reporting that Qantas took a safety action as result of the occurrence, which modified the electronic flight bag's menu structure which no longer defaulted any runway length but required to positively select the entry point onto a runway.
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Nov 22, 2011
Airline
Qantas
Flight number
QF-608
Departure
Melbourne, Australia
Destination
Brisbane, Australia
Aircraft Registration
VH-TJL
Aircraft Type
Boeing 737-400
ICAO Type Designator
B734
This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
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