What happened
On 3 February 2002, a Delta Airlines MD-11, registration N803DE, was completing a scheduled flight from Atlanta, Georgia, to Dublin, with a planned stop in Shannon. During the landing rollout on runway 28 at Dublin Airport, the aircraft began to drift initially toward the right and subsequently toward the left side of the runway. Despite the pilot-flying applying full right rudder and right tiller inputs, the aircraft could not be corrected and departed the paved surface.
The aircraft traveled approximately 250 meters across the prepared, rain-soaked graded ground before coming to a halt. There were no injuries among the 167 passengers or the crew. Following the excursion, the captain elected not to use the emergency evacuation slides, opting instead to wait for mobile stairs to facilitate a controlled disembarkation. Passengers and crew eventually exited through the forward right-side cabin door and were transported to the terminal via buses.
The investigation
The AAIU investigation examined the flight history, meteorological conditions, and the physical state of the runway surface. Investigators reviewed the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and digital flight data recorder (DFDR) to reconstruct the sequence of events. The inquiry also looked into the aircraft's configuration, noting that the crew had set the auto-braking to minimum and had increased the target approach speed by 5 knots due to potential turbulence.
Technical examinations of the runway surface and the surrounding terrain were conducted, specifically focusing on the impact of recent rainfall and the friction levels of the pavement. The investigation also reviewed the airport's emergency response and the effectiveness of the aircraft recovery process.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced a loss of directional control during the landing rollout.
- The runway surface was slippery, and the aircraft drifted off the paved area.
- Heavy rainfall and a rain-soaked runway surface contributed to the loss of directional control.
- The pilot's attempts to counteract the drift using rudder and tiller inputs were unsuccessful due to the lack of friction on the surface.