Virgin Australia B738 at Christchurch on Jul 15th 2015, unexpected reduced runway length for takeoff, wrong reference speeds

Last Update: January 28, 2016 / 16:53:11 GMT/Zulu time

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Incident Facts

Date of incident
Jul 15, 2015

Classification
Report

Flight number
VA-127

Aircraft Registration
VH-YIU

Aircraft Type
Boeing 737-800

ICAO Type Designator
B738

A Virgin Australia Boeing 737-800, registration VH-YIU performing flight VA-127 from Christchurch (New Zealand) to Brisbane,QL (Australia), was planned to depart at 06:50L however due to a crew change scheduled the prior evening was rescheduled to depart at 08:15L (Jul 14th 20:15Z). The captain now assigned to the flight had to fly in as a passenger on another flight and arrived at the aircraft at 07:30L. The first officer had reached the aircraft at 07:00L, worked the flight plan package, read the NOTAMs, ordered the fuel needed for the flight, and told the captain that there was nothing signficant in the NOTAMs. The captain did not read the NOTAMs himself. The first officer had noticed two NOTAMs were reporting runway works at Christchurch but assessed neither one would affect their flight.

The crew performed their takeoff computations based on the standard data available for a takeoff from runway 02 intersection A6 with flaps 5 and 24k lbs thrust.

While being pushed back from the gate ATC advised that runway 02 had been shortened from 3,288 meters/10,780 feet to 1,920 meters/6,300 feet length with the northern 1,368 meters/4,490 feet being closed. The crew therefore reviewed the takeoff reference data and expected to find yellow pages in their flight package indicating takeoff performance to be used during the works in progress, but did not find any such pages. The crew therefore elected to use full thrust for departure, 26k lbs of thrust with flaps 5, and computed their reference speeds for full runway length resulting in V1 at 145 KIAS, Vr at 147 KIAS and V2 at 151 KIAS.

While taxiing out the crew did not notice any person, equipment or other obstructions on the runway. The aircraft lined up at the threshold of the runway and departed without incident.

During climb out the captain heard a transmission to another inbound aircraft that the full runway length would be available for landing. This prompted the captain to review the NOTAMs which were effective from Jul 14th 20:00Z to Jul 15th 02:25Z (Jul 15th 08:00L to 14:25L). The flight plan package also contained a notice requiring a request On-Board Performance Tool (OPT available to the operator's dispatch staff) for takeoff with runway work in progress. While in flight the captain requested the OPT takeoff performance data and was advised V1 was 142 KIAS, Vr was 144 KIAS and V2 was 152 KIAS.

The flight continued to Brisbane for a safe landing.

The ATSB released their final report releasing following safety message:

The operator’s investigation found that the ability to reject the take-off or maintain obstacle clearance safely in the event of an engine failure was compromised by the use of the incorrect take-off reference speeds. Inaccurate take-off reference data has potentially serious consequences.
Aircraft Registration Data
Registration mark
VH-YIU
Country of Registration
Australia
Date of Registration
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Airworthyness Category
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TCDS Ident. No.
Manufacturer
THE BOEING COMPANY
Aircraft Model / Type
737-8FE
ICAO Aircraft Type
B738
Year of Manufacture
Serial Number
Maximum Take off Mass (MTOM) [kg]
Engine Count
Engine
Ccbn nAqpqAkfjqc lchedpgcmhlqckcibc bqlijcmdm Subscribe to unlock
Main Owner
Jjemhkkdghdb eiAmmclqj gd fqlcqmdembdkngljjiklAqbchjii dhiqAppejkgjjbqnhlcikfnjk nkAiqbiAmmbgbbnklpeAc Subscribe to unlock
Main Operator
N mAlgiqppfbmmmfjfheneindlhdjdAlghehphAmemjp migkkk dbqg efmqkpinmkAmimjppl kddibklicqicqpAieAnAighfkdbmdk Subscribe to unlock
Incident Facts

Date of incident
Jul 15, 2015

Classification
Report

Flight number
VA-127

Aircraft Registration
VH-YIU

Aircraft Type
Boeing 737-800

ICAO Type Designator
B738

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