Tuesday 30 August 2011

Airbus Updates No.407

Accident: Gulf Air A320 at Kochi on Aug 29th 2011, runway excursion

By Simon Hradecky, created Monday, Aug 29th 2011 07:32Z, last updated Monday, Aug 29th 2011 12:53Z
A Gulf Air Airbus A320-200, registration A9C-AG performing flight GF-270 (dep Aug 28th) from Bahrain (Bahrain) to Kochi (India) with 137 passengers and 6 crew, landed on Cochin International Airport's runway 27 at about 03:55L (22:25Z Aug 28th) but veered right off the runway and came to a stop with all gear about 10 meters off the paved surface. The aircraft was evacuated. One passenger received serious injuries (fractures) and is in hospital care, 7 other minor injuries and were released from hospital after treatment. The aircraft received substantial damage to its nose gear.

The airport said the runway is closed for an estimated 10 hours although small turboprops can operate on the runway. Strong winds, rain and reduced visibility of 2000 meters prevailed at the time of landing.

Gulf Air confirmed the nose gear collapsed. One passenger received serious injuries.

India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation reported the crew provided testimony that they were able to see the runway from about 6nm out. While descending through 2000 feet AGL there was moderate rain, but after the aircraft had descended below decision height there were sudden gusts of wind and severe rain. A disabled aircraft retrieval kit is being brought in from Mumbai to move the aircraft back onto paved surface and off the runway.

A passenger reported that the airplane had landed normally when the pilot all of the sudden lost control. The aircraft skidded off the runway into the grass and mud. Shouts occurred in the cabin "MAYDAY, MAYDAY, EVACUATE", smoke began to fill the cabin, the passenger noticed some some strange smell of some gasses. Cabin crew later said the aircraft had been evacuated in 20 seconds, the captain appeared to be in total shock after evacuation.

The runway was re-opened for takeoffs from runway 27 and landing on runway 09 with a reduced runway length (landing distance available on runway 27 and takeoff distance available on runway 09) of 2050 meters.

The local weatherstation reported partly cloudy, variable winds at 3 knots and visibility of 4000 meters at 02:30L, light rain, winds from westsouthwest at 19 knots (significantly different to Metars) and visibility of 2000 meters at 05:30L (00:00Z).

Cochin International Airport offers a runway 09/27 of 3400 meters length with ILS and VOR approaches to runway 27 and a VOR approach to runway 09.

Metars:
VOCI 290000Z 26003KT 4000 HZ FEW008 SCT015 OVC080 26/24 Q1008 TEMPO VIS 2000M RA
VOCI 282330Z 28005KT 4000 HZ FEW006 SCT015 OVC080 26/24 Q1008 NOSIG
VOCI 282300Z 00000KT 4000 HZ FEW005 SCT015 OVC080 26/24 Q1008 NOSIG
VOCI 282130Z 29005KT 3000 HZ SCT010 SCT080 26/24 Q1008 NOSIG
VOCI 282100Z 04004KT 3000 HZ SCT010 BKN080 26/24 Q1008 NOSIG
VOCI 282030Z 00000KT 3000 HZ FEW010 SCT015 BKN080 26/25 Q1009 NOSIG
VOCI 281800Z 00000KT 3000 HZ FEW010 SCT015 BKN080 27/25 Q1010 NOSIG

Relevant NOTAM:
A1201/11 - OBSTRUCTION DUE DISABLED ACFT ON RWY. PSN: 2200M FM THE BEGINING
OF RWY09. 31M NORTH OF CL OF RWY. HGT: 11M AGL
REVISED DECALRED DISTANCES OF RWY09/27 DUE DISABLED ACFT ON RWY
AS FOLLOWS.
RWY TORA TODA ASDA LDA
09 1500M 1500M 1500M 2050M
27 2050M 2050M 2050M 1500M
ARRIVALS PERMITTED ON RWY09 ONLY AND DEPARTURES PERMITTED ON RWY27
ONLY. ALL ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES ARE LIKELY TO BE DLA. 29 AUG 06:00 2011 UNTIL 29 AUG 18:30 2011 ESTIMATED. CREATED: 29 AUG 06:12 2011

A9C-AG off the runway (Photo: AP):
A9C-AG off the runway (Photo: AP)

ILS 27 Approach Chart (Graphics: AIP India):
ILS 27 Approach Chart (Graphics: AIP India):

Map (Graphics: AVH/Google Earth):

Map (Graphics: AVH/Google Earth)

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