What happened
On August 11, 2012, TAROM flight ROT 709, operated by an ATR 72-500 with registration YR-ATH, arrived at Iași Airport (LRIA) from Bucharest-Otopeni. The aircraft touched down on runway 15 during nighttime conditions. Following touchdown, while decelerating, the aircraft deviated to the left and exited the paved surface onto the grassy runway strip.
The aircraft traveled approximately 250 meters off the runway before re-entering the concrete surface. After stabilizing back on the pavement, the commander requested a visual inspection from air traffic control. The inspection confirmed no structural damage to the airframe. The flight crew then taxied normally to the apron, and all passengers and crew disembarked without incident.
The investigation
The Civil Aviation Safety Investigation and Analysis Center (CIAS) examined flight data recorder (FDR) recordings, cockpit voice recorder transcripts, meteorological reports, and aerodrome infrastructure. The investigation established that the runway was wet with standing water at the time of landing. Meteorological data indicated a wind from 280 degrees at 10 knots, resulting in a tailwind component for runway 15 operations.
Analysis of the FDR data showed that the aircraft landed on the correct magnetic heading (150 degrees) but with the runway centerline positioned to the right of the aircraft's position. The investigation noted that Iași Airport lacked axial runway lighting at the time, which may have influenced the crew's touchdown placement relative to the left-side edge lights.
Findings
The deviation from the runway was primarily caused by aerodynamic and friction factors acting on the left side of the aircraft after it crossed the threshold. Key findings include:
- The aircraft landed with the centerline to the right, placing the left main landing gear closer to the edge.
- Maintenance of left rudder input combined with higher thrust on engine 2 contributed to the leftward deviation.
- The wet runway surface likely reduced tire adhesion on the left side, potentially causing aquaplaning or reduced braking efficiency as the left gear exited the pavement.
- The lack of axial lighting may have led the crew to aim for the left-side edge lights, resulting in a touchdown position that facilitated the excursion.
The investigation concluded that the error stemmed from a misinterpretation of how weather conditions would influence the aircraft's trajectory during landing. The aerodrome's lack of centerline lighting was identified as a contributing factor.
Safety action
The investigation issued recommendations for both the operator and the aerodrome:
- TAROM was advised to focus simulator training on night landings with tailwind components, specifically addressing techniques for maintaining runway alignment under similar conditions.
- The Iași Airport operator was recommended to analyze the feasibility of installing a runway axial lighting system to improve visual guidance during nighttime operations.