What happened
On December 13, 2013, an Embraer 175 arrived at LCLK with a fuel remaining amount of 1,240 kg. According to the operator's Operational Instructions, the required fuel reserve for this flight should have been 1,600 kg, meaning the aircraft landed with a deficit of 360 kg.
During the departure from the origin airport, ground personnel attempted to pressure the crew into loading the entirety of the passenger baggage. Had the crew complied, the aircraft would have exceeded its maximum takeoff weight by approximately 1,000 kg. The pilot refused this pressure and instead loaded only the amount of baggage that ensured the aircraft remained within its maximum takeoff weight limits.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the discrepancy between the actual fuel on board upon arrival and the required reserves. Investigators examined the flight planning process and the circumstances surrounding the departure from the origin airport, including the pressure exerted regarding baggage loading.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was a flawed flight plan calculation provided to the crew.
- Due to a reorganization and the implementation of a new computer-based flight planning system at the time, the specific origin of the calculation error could not be determined.
- The crew's decision to limit baggage loading prevented a separate potential incident involving an overweight takeoff.