Air Canada B763 at Zurich on Sep 29th 2014, autoland failure

Last Update: October 2, 2014 / 21:15:50 GMT/Zulu time

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Photo of Air Canada C-FXCA, Boeing 767-300 — Air Canada C-FXCA, Boeing 767-300 (Photo credit: ATom.UK / Flickr / License: CC by-sa)

Incident Facts

Date of incident
Sep 29, 2014

Classification
Incident

Airline
Air Canada

Flight number
AC-878

Departure
Toronto, Canada

Destination
Zurich, Switzerland

Aircraft Registration
C-FXCA

Aircraft Type
Boeing 767-300

ICAO Type Designator
B763

An Air Canada Boeing 767-300, registration C-FXCA performing flight AC-878 from Toronto,ON (Canada) to Zurich (Switzerland), was on final approach to Zurich's runway 16, low visibility procedures were in effect, tower reporting RVRs at 600 meters, when the crew initiated a go-around from low height and positioned for another approach, but again went around from low height (about 200 feet). The crew subsequently reported they were conducting an automatic landing, the autopilot however had malfunctioned on both approaches and they lost autoland every time at 200 feet. The aircraft diverted to Geneva (Switzerland) for a safe landing about 80 minutes after the first go-around.

The aircraft was able to reach Zurich later the day with a delay of 8 hours.

Metars Zurich:
LSZH 290950Z VRB02KT 3200 1500N BR FEW001 BKN003 14/14 Q1027 BECMG 5000 SCT005
LSZH 290920Z VRB03KT 2200 0800NW R14/P2000U R16/P2000N R28/P2000U R34/P2000D BCFG SCT001 BKN002 14/14 Q1027 BECMG 3000 BKN005
LSZH 290850Z 31003KT 260V040 0700 R14/P2000U R16/P2000U R28/P2000D R34/P2000U BCFG SCT001 BKN002 13/13 Q1027 BECMG 1500 BKN005
LSZH 290820Z VRB02KT 0600 R14/0800U R16/1000N R28/P2000U R34/1000D BCFG VV001 13/13 Q1027 BECMG 1500 BKN005
LSZH 290750Z VRB02KT 0450 R14/0800U R16/1000N R28/P2000U R34/1000D BCFG VV001 12/12 Q1027 BECMG 1500 BKN005
LSZH 290720Z 00000KT 0250 R14/0500N R16/0600N R28/0900U R34/1300D PRFG VV001 12/12 Q1027 BECMG 0500 BKN003
LSZH 290650Z VRB01KT 0250 R14/0400N R16/0600N R28/0900U R34/P2000U PRFG VV001 12/12 Q1027 BECMG 0500 BKN003
LSZH 290620Z VRB02KT 0200 R14/0450N R16/0500N R28/0900U R34/0550N PRFG VV001 12/12 Q1027 NOSIG
LSZH 290550Z VRB01KT 0200 R14/0650N R16/0650N R28/0800U R34/0600D FG VV001 12/12 Q1027 NOSIG
LSZH 290520Z 14003KT 110V170 0200 R14/0550N R16/0650N R28/1000D R34/0600U PRFG VV001 12/12 Q1026 NOSIG
LSZH 290450Z 12003KT 0300 R14/0700N R16/0650N R28/0800U R34/0800N PRFG VV001 12/12 Q1026 NOSIG

Metars Geneva:
LSGG 291050Z VRB02KT CAVOK 19/14 Q1027 NOSIG
LSGG 291020Z VRB02KT 9999 FEW035 BKN110 18/13 Q1027 NOSIG
LSGG 290950Z VRB02KT 9999 FEW040 BKN110 17/14 Q1027 NOSIG
LSGG 290920Z VRB01KT 9999 FEW060 BKN120 18/14 Q1027 NOSIG
LSGG 290850Z VRB02KT 9999 FEW060 SCT130 BKN160 17/14 Q1027 NOSIG
LSGG 290820Z 11003KT 9999 FEW060 BKN180 16/13 Q1027 NOSIG
LSGG 290750Z VRB02KT 9999 FEW040 SCT180 17/13 Q1027 NOSIG
LSGG 290720Z VRB02KT 9999 FEW060 SCT180 15/13 Q1027 NOSIG
LSGG 290650Z VRB02KT //// FEW060 SCT170 14/13 Q1027 NOSIG
LSGG 290620Z VRB01KT 9999 FEW035 SCT120 12/11 Q1026 NOSIG
LSGG 290550Z VRB01KT 9999 MIFG FEW040 11/10 Q1026 NOSIG
LSGG 290520Z VRB01KT 9999 MIFG FEW035 11/10 Q1026 NOSIG
LSGG 290450Z 00000KT 9999 FEW040 SCT150 11/10 Q1026 NOSIG
LSGG 290420Z 00000KT 9999 FEW040 SCT150 11/10 Q1026 NOSIG