What happened
On 28 June 2020, a Cessna Citation 560XLS, registration VT-JSS, was performing a non-scheduled flight from Hyderabad to Jindal Vijayanagar Airport in Karnataka. The flight, operated by M/s Jindal Steel & Power Ltd., carried six passengers and a two-pilot crew.
While the approach was initially stable and performed under VFR conditions, the aircraft encountered a sudden, intense downpour immediately after touchdown on runway 13. This heavy rain caused visibility to drop to near zero, making it impossible for the crew to maintain sight of the runway centerline or edge lights. During the landing roll, the aircraft began drifting toward the left. After traveling approximately 889 meters, the aircraft exited the paved surface and rolled onto the soft ground. The crew eventually managed to steer the aircraft back onto the paved runway, where it came to a halt near the threshold of runway 31. There were no injuries to the passengers or crew, though the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
The AAIB India investigation examined the aircraft's systems, the meteorological conditions, and the crew's adherence to operational procedures. Investigators reviewed the aircraft's maintenance history, the serviceability of the braking and thrust reverser systems, and the runway friction levels. The investigation also looked into the functionality of the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and digital flight data recorder (DFDR), noting that the CVR had not been tested prior to the flight and the DFDR lacked relevant data for the specific accident period. Additionally, the inquiry reviewed the operator's flight safety manuals and compliance with regulatory requirements regarding aircraft investigation procedures.
Findings
- The primary cause of the excursion was the sudden downpour following touchdown, which eliminated visual references and led to a loss of directional awareness.
- The aircraft was operating in tailwind conditions on a wet runway.
- The crew was unable to arrest the lateral movement of the aircraft once the centerline was obscured by rain.
- A pre-flight checklist omission was noted, as the crew did not perform the CVR test as required by the 'Before Taxi' checklist.
- The operator's flight safety manual contained outdated regulations regarding aircraft accident investigations.
Safety action
- The investigation recommended that the DGCA instruct operators to update manuals to align with current accident investigation rules.
- Recommendations were made to ensure all Indian-registered aircraft equipped with CVRs are fully compliant with regulatory requirements.
- The investigation suggested that operators ensure CVR and DFDR units are properly configured to record all necessary parameters without interruption.
- It was recommended that non-scheduled operators (NSOP) strictly adhere to all checklists and follow company or OEM guidelines rather than relying on self-assessment for aircraft systems.