Incident Overview
On 13 October 2016, a serious incident occurred involving an ATR 72-212A aircraft, registration YR-ATI, operated by TAROM. The aircraft was scheduled to perform commercial flight ROT717 from Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport (LROP) to Iași Airport (LRIA) and back. On board were 38 passengers and 4 crew members.
Flight Sequence
After passenger boarding and engine start, the aircraft began taxiing for runway 08L at 18:08 UTC. Lineup on runway 08L occurred at 18:16 UTC. The crew requested a 30-second delay due to another aircraft taking off moments earlier on the same runway. The aircraft then started its takeoff roll, but shortly after, the crew rejected the takeoff, citing strong vibrations in the nose gear area. After stopping, the aircraft vacated the runway via taxiway O, then continued on taxiways P and C before returning to the apron and parking spot.
Subsequently, another aircraft (YR-ASB) was cleared for lineup and hold but instructed to wait for a runway inspection. An airport employee conducted a runway inspection by car, entering via taxiway V, traveling along the north side, then turning in front of the aligned aircraft, continuing on the south side, and finally along the centerline before exiting via taxiway O. No abnormalities were noted during this inspection, and three commercial flights subsequently took off from runway 08L.
Later, airport personnel inspected aircraft YR-ATI at its parking position. The ventral fuselage behind the nose gear exhibited several deformations from impacts, some with skin punctures, and at least three blades of the left-hand engine showed impact scars. A thorough inspection of runway 08L then revealed metallic elements and glass cullet identified as broken parts of runway edge lights. Six runway edge lights (numbers 3, 4, 5, 6, 14, and 16) on the south edge of runway 08L were destroyed. As a result, runway 08L/26R was closed.
Aircraft and Personnel Information
The aircraft was an ATR 72-212A, serial number 867, manufactured in 2009. It had accumulated 14,809 total flight hours. Both pilots held valid ATPL(A) licenses and had Class I medical certificates with a VDL restriction. The pilot-in-command, a 32-year-old woman, had 4,723 flight hours. The co-pilot, a 31-year-old woman, had 1,488 flight hours.
Damage
The aircraft sustained damage to the left nose gear tire, which contained glass cullet and traces of contact. The central fuselage had hit traces with skin punctures and deformation. The left-hand engine propeller had at least one blade damaged. Additionally, six runway edge lights were destroyed.
Probable Cause
The incident occurred as a consequence of the aircraft lining up and performing its takeoff roll along the runway edge lights on the south side of runway 08L.