Mocambique Expresso E145 near Maputo on Mar 19th 2015, return to Beira creates fuel emergency resulting in TCAS RA

Last Update: March 30, 2016 / 16:20:23 GMT/Zulu time

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Incident Facts

Date of incident
Mar 19, 2015

Classification
Incident

Airline
Mocambique Expresso

Flight number
TM-105

Departure
Beira, Mozambique

Destination
Maputo, Mozambique

Aircraft Registration
C9-MEX

Aircraft Type
Embraer ERJ-145

ICAO Type Designator
E145

A Mocambique Expresso Embraer ERJ-145 on behalf of LAM, registration C9-MEX performing flight TM-105 from Beira to Maputo (Mozambique), was on approach to Maputo, however, the crew decided they could not land in Maputo and decided to return to Beira. Immediately recognizing that they would land in Beira below required final reserve the crew declared emergency and requested to climb to FL370 but was not cleared through FL340 due to opposite traffic at FL340, an Emirates Boeing 777-300, registration A6-ENB performing flight EK-775 from Dubai (United Arab Emirates) to Durban (South Africa). The E145 crew climbed to FL370 nonetheless resulting in TCAS resolution advisories activating in both aircraft at approximately 14:02Z, the Boeing initiating a descent as result about 125nm northnortheast of Maputo and deviated from the assigned FL340 by about 300 feet. The Embraer continued to Beira for a safe landing below required final fuel reserve, the left hand tank's readings showing 360kg/793lbs of fuel remaining in amber and right hand tank's readings showing 270kg/595lbs of fuel remaining in red. The Emirates Boeing landed safely in Durban.

The Emirates crew filed a safety report after safe landing in Durban, an official investigation was carried out following the occurrence.

The occurrence became known to The Aviation Herald in early March 2016, almost a year later, when a photo of the Embraer's Multi Function Display after landing posted on social media was forwarded together with information that a LAM flight between Beira and Maputo needed to return to Beira resulting in a fuel emergency and due to the fuel emergency climbed without clearance causing a TCAS resolution with a flight in opposite direction, no further details like date, flights involved etc. known. The Aviation Herald engaged in an extensive background research to identify the date, flight, conflicting flight and verify the circumstances of the occurrence before contacting Mocambique Expresso about the occurrence.

The Embraer ERJ-145 safety pilot of Mocambique Expresso told The Aviation Herald: "We confirm the occurrence. The flight departed from Beira (FQBR) to Maputo (FQMA) with designated alternate Airport Kruger (FAKN). During the flight the weather in Maputo and as well in all the South West area degraded quickly, disabling the crew to use Kruger as alternate. The PIC decided to return to Beira. The intended level for return was FL 370. During climb, they declared emergency fuel and while they were waiting for ATC clearance to climb to that level, they had TCAS RA with Emirates. This occurrence was promptly investigated internally by MEX Safety Dept., and by Civil Aviation Authorities (IACM) and appropriate corrective actions were taken."

Metars Maputo:
FQMA 191600Z 03006KT 9999 BKN020 FEW030CB 25/21 Q1012 RETSRA RMK CB TO ALL DIR NOSIG=
FQMA 191500Z 05012KT 9000 TSRA SCT015 BKN020 FEW030CB 25/20 Q1011 RMK CB TO ALL DIR=
FQMA 191300Z 30006KT 9999 TS BKN020 FEW030CB 36/19 Q1019 RMK CB TO SW/NW NOSIG=
FQMA 191200Z 34008KT 9999 SCT020 38/20 Q1010 NOSIG=
FQMA 191100Z 32011KT 9999 SCT025 36/20 Q1012 NOSIG=

Metars Kruger:
FAKN 191600Z AUTO 26005KT //// // ////// 19/14 Q1017=
FAKN 191500Z 29004KT 9999 SCT025 OVC080 18/16 Q1017 NOSIG=
FAKN 191400Z 19004KT 9999 SCT025 OVC080 18/15 Q1018 RETS NOSIG=
FAKN 191310Z 23014KT 8000 -TSRA SCT025 FEW035CB OVC080 19/14 Q1019 TEMPO 5000=
FAKN 191300Z 22012KT 9999 TS SCT025 FEW035CB OVC080 24/12 Q1018 TEMPO 5000 TSRA=
FAKN 191200Z AUTO 20004KT //// // ////// 26/16 Q1017=
FAKN 191100Z AUTO 20002KT //// // ////// 27/16 Q1018=

Metars Beira (no further data available):
FQBR 191500Z 06012KT 9999 FEW025 32/24 Q1011=
FQBR 191200Z 08011KT 9999 FEW025 32/24 Q1011=
FQBR 191100Z 08010KT 9999 FEW025 31/26 Q1012=
Incident Facts

Date of incident
Mar 19, 2015

Classification
Incident

Airline
Mocambique Expresso

Flight number
TM-105

Departure
Beira, Mozambique

Destination
Maputo, Mozambique

Aircraft Registration
C9-MEX

Aircraft Type
Embraer ERJ-145

ICAO Type Designator
E145

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