Report Finding: Plane Skidded Off Runway During Take-Off In Strong Crosswinds
An aeroplane with 29 people on board skidded off the runway and landed on grass during an attempted take-off in strong crosswind conditions, according to a report.
An aeroplane with 29 people on board skidded off the runway and landed on grass during an attempted take-off in strong crosswind conditions, according to a report.
The Saab-Scania SF340B was leaving Stornoway Airport on the Isle of Lewis when the incident happened on the morning of January 2 this year.
The passenger plane suffered extensive damage'' to its front landing gear,powerplants'' and the underside of the aircraft, but no-one was injured, a bulletin published by the (AAIB) found.
The report details how the aircraft was preparing to fly from the Western Isles to Glasgow Airport when the incident happened at 8.33am. There were 26 passengers and three crew members on board.
Summing up the incident, the report stated: At approximately 65 KIAS (knots indicated airspeed) during an attempted take-off in strong and gusty crosswind conditions, the aircraft swung to the left and departed the paved surface.''
It told how the aircraft skidded to the left, departing the runway surface onto the grass'' before crossing a disused runway and ending up back on grass about 250 metres from where it first left the surface. The crash alarm was activated and the airport's emergency plan put into action.
The report said: After the aircraft came to a halt, the captain saw that the propellers were still turning and so called into the cabin for the passengers to remain seated.
One of the passengers shouted for someone to open the emergency exit but the cabin crew member instructed the passengers not to do so because the propellers were still turning.''
It continued: When the passenger seated in the emergency exit row on the right of the aircraft saw that the right propeller had stopped, he decided to open the exit.
He climbed out onto the wing and helped the remaining passengers leave the aircraft through the same exit, instructing them to slide off the rear of the wing onto the ground.''
Reports at the time said two men on board the Loganair-operated plane were taken to Western Isles Hospital with minor injuries while two female passengers sustained minor injuries but declined medical help.
The AAIB bulletin said all the passengers were taken to the fire station and on to the passenger terminal once they got off the plane. It added: There were no injuries.''
Examination of the aircraft after the accident revealed significant damage and mud ingress in the forward avionics bay'' which was likely to have brought recording by the on-board flight data recorders to a premature end, the report found.
It concluded the change of direction which sent the aeroplane sharply left could have been caused by one or a combination of factors including a change in wind speed and direction.
A Loganair spokesman said: We have nothing further to add to the report.''