Dan-Air Flight 0034
Dan-Air Services Ltd | |
Registration | G-BEKF |
---|---|
Flight origin | Sumburgh Airport |
Destination | Aberdeen Airport |
Passengers | 44 |
Crew | 3 |
Fatalities | 17 |
Injuries | 0 |
Survivors | 30 |
Dan-Air Flight 0034 was a fatal accident involving a
The crash, which occurred on 31 July 1979 50 m (160 ft) offshore following the aircraft's failure to take off, resulted in the aircraft's destruction and 17 deaths of 47 on board (15 of 44 passengers and both pilots).[1][2][3]
The aircraft
The aircraft, operated by
Accident
G-BEKF was engaged on regular charter flights between Aberdeen and Sumburgh, carrying oil company personnel. The inbound flight to Sumburgh was made without incident and the crew had a seven-hour stopover before making the return flight to Aberdeen, Dan-Air 0034, with 44 passengers on board.[6]
When flight 0034 was cleared for takeoff from runway 09 at 15:59 hours, the engines were accelerated while the aircraft was held back by its brakes. The takeoff run commenced at exactly 16:00 hours. Evidence later retrieved from the aircraft's
About five seconds after reaching the scheduled rotation speed, the aircraft began to decelerate. It then crossed the airport perimeter road and passed over the inclined sea defences, losing its
Investigation
The accident was notified by Sumburgh
The entire wreckage was salvaged and removed for a detailed examination, which needed to take into account the additional damage that had resulted from the action of the sea and the salvage operation. Both engines were stripped down and examined, but no evidence of pre-impact failure was found. The propeller control units were tested and were discovered to perform within specification. No evidence of fire, smoke, or overheating was found.[6]
Although the compass selector was discovered to have been switched to the
Cause
The AAIB investigation concluded that the accident was caused by the locked condition of the aircraft's
Safety recommendations
The AAIB made nine recommendations:[1][2][6]
- That the gust lock system be redesigned to ensure positive operation at all times and avoid misleading the crew as to the position of any lock.
- That cockpit voice recordersbe fitted to all public transport aircraft over 11,400 kg (25,100 lb) maximum weight.
- That the authorities of airports with runways facing out to sea liaise with the HM Coastguardto agree procedures for close offshore rescue.
- That aerodromes operated by the Civil Aviation Authority(CAA) be licensed as per the [same] requirements for other aerodromes.
- That the CAA Publication 168 Licensing of Aerodromes[11] be reviewed in the interests of upgrading its listed safety margins.
- That the CAA reconsider the possibility of supplying some kind of retardation device in or beyond the overrun areas at critical aerodromes.
- Demonstrations of how to don and operate lifejackets be required, and individual safety leaflets be provided on all public transport flights which takeoff or land over water.
- Lifejacket stowage in HS 748 and aircraft with similar arrangements be repositioned to improve accessibility.
- A suitable launching device for lifelines be devised and supplied to coastal aerodromes.
- Where not already provided, loudhailers be included in the emergency equipment at all aerodromes of Category VI and above.
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g ASN Aircraft accident description Avro 748-105 Srs. 1 G-BEKF—Sumburgh Airport (LSI)
- ^ a b c d The Sumburgh report summarised, Flight International, 25 July 1981, pp. 216/7
- ^ a b Safety update ..., Air Transport, Flight International, 14 June 1980, p. 1239
- ISBN 0-86051-664-4, p. 215
- ^ Airliner Market, Air Transport, Flight International, 15 January 1977, p. 113
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Report No: 1/1981. Report on the accident to BAe HS 748, G-BEKF at Sumburgh Airport, Shetland Islands, 31 July 1979" (PDF). Accidents Investigation Branch. 12 May 1981. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
- ^ Airliner Classics (Dan-Air – Popular British Charter operator: The Boeing 727), Key Publishing, Stamford, UK, November 2011, pp. 95/6
- ^ a b Airliner Classics (Dan-Air – Popular British Charter operator: The Boeing 727), Key Publishing, Stamford, UK, November 2011, p. 96
- ^ Sumburgh report cites locked elevators, World News, Flight International, 11 July 1981, p. 74
- ^ The Sumburgh report summarised ..., Flight International, 25 July 1981, p. 217
- ^ "CAP 168: Licensing of Aerodromes" (PDF). Civil Aviation Authority. February 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 September 2007.
References
- Accident description at the Aviation Safety Network
- "Report name: 1/1981 BAe HS 748, G-BEKF" (PDF). Air Accidents Investigation Branch. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 February 2009.
- The Sumburgh report summarised, Flight International, 25 July 1981, pp. 216/7