What happened
On April 29, 2017, an Airbus A320 was operating within RVSM (Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum) airspace under the direction of Athens FIR (LGGG). Following instructions from Air Traffic Control, the flight crew initiated a climb to the assigned flight level of FL320. During this ascent, the aircraft's Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) issued a Resolution Advisory (RA).
The investigation
An investigation into the incident utilized Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) analysis to reconstruct the aircraft's performance during the climb. The data revealed that the aircraft briefly reached a vertical speed of 3,000 ft/min with a pitch angle of 6 degrees. The investigation established that the TCAS RA was subsequently cleared once the autopilot was disconnected and the aircraft's pitch angle was reduced.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was a pilot error by the First Officer, specifically involving an exceedance of the maximum allowable climb rate permitted within RVSM airspace.
- Inadequate coordination between the flight crew members contributed to the event.
- The presence of moderate turbulence was a contributing factor to the flight dynamics during the climb.