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Colombian investigators have determined that the crew of a Boeing 727-200 freighter departed in a tailwind before the aircraft overran and struck a perimeter fence, briefly becoming airborne before crashing in a field.
The inquiry into the 20 December accident at Puerto Carreno states that the crew was apparently “unaware” of information regarding the direction and strength of the wind.
Colombian accident investigation authority GRIAA says preliminary information shows two aircraft – an Embraer 170 and a Cessna 208 – took off from runway 07 shortly before the 727 was due to depart.
These two aircraft had taken into account the prevailing wind at the airport, it says. Meteorological data showed the wind from 010k at 8kt, which would have favoured a take-off from 07.
But GRIAA says cockpit-voice recorder information shows the 727 headed instead to the threshold of the opposite-direction runway 25. It points out that Puerto Carreno was operating as an uncontrolled airport from 15:00, and the 727 departed at around 17:20.
Flight-data recorder information indicates that the trijet was configured with 30° take-off flaps. The inquiry associates this setting with a modification known as the ‘Quiet Wing’ which was developed for the 727 in order to reduce noise.
The ‘Quiet Wing’ system is designed to increase take-off performance through modifications including a flap and aileron droop, to increase lift and thereby cut perceived noise on the ground.
GRIAA adds that the 727’s configuration also included 6.5 units of elevator trim.
The inquiry says the evidence suggests the crew was not aware of the wind situation. Departing from runway 25 under the recorded wind conditions would have resulted in a 4kt tailwind component rather than a 4kt headwind.
GRIAA says the air temperature was 31C. The airport has an elevation of 54m and a runway length of 1,800m.
All three engines were functioning during the take-off roll. The investigators state that the aircraft’s V1 and rotation speeds were 127kt.
The inquiry into the 20 December accident at Puerto Carreno states that the crew was apparently “unaware” of information regarding the direction and strength of the wind.
Colombian accident investigation authority GRIAA says preliminary information shows two aircraft – an Embraer 170 and a Cessna 208 – took off from runway 07 shortly before the 727 was due to depart.
These two aircraft had taken into account the prevailing wind at the airport, it says. Meteorological data showed the wind from 010k at 8kt, which would have favoured a take-off from 07.
But GRIAA says cockpit-voice recorder information shows the 727 headed instead to the threshold of the opposite-direction runway 25. It points out that Puerto Carreno was operating as an uncontrolled airport from 15:00, and the 727 departed at around 17:20.
Flight-data recorder information indicates that the trijet was configured with 30° take-off flaps. The inquiry associates this setting with a modification known as the ‘Quiet Wing’ which was developed for the 727 in order to reduce noise.
The ‘Quiet Wing’ system is designed to increase take-off performance through modifications including a flap and aileron droop, to increase lift and thereby cut perceived noise on the ground.
GRIAA adds that the 727’s configuration also included 6.5 units of elevator trim.
The inquiry says the evidence suggests the crew was not aware of the wind situation. Departing from runway 25 under the recorded wind conditions would have resulted in a 4kt tailwind component rather than a 4kt headwind.
GRIAA says the air temperature was 31C. The airport has an elevation of 54m and a runway length of 1,800m.
All three engines were functioning during the take-off roll. The investigators state that the aircraft’s V1 and rotation speeds were 127kt.