Summary
On 26 March 2024, a Fokker 70 aircraft, registration 5Y-MMB, operated by Renegade Air Limited, was involved in a ground loss of control incident at Wilson Airport (HKNW) in Nairobi County. The incident occurred at approximately 0650 UTC (0950 local time) while the aircraft was backtracking on Runway 25 to exit via Taxiway C. The nose wheel veered off the right side of the runway and became stuck in a soft, muddy surface.
Incident Details
The flight departed from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and was on a non-commercial flight with three persons on board. After landing at Wilson Airport, the crew initiated backtracking on Runway 25 to reach Taxiway C. During this maneuver, the aircraft deviated from the paved surface, and the nose landing gear became embedded in soft mud. No injuries were reported, and the aircraft sustained no damage. The aircraft was subsequently recovered.
Aircraft Information
The incident aircraft was a Fokker 70, serial number 11559, manufactured by Fokker Aircraft B.V. in September 1995. It was powered by two Rolls-Royce TAY 620-15 engines. The aircraft was registered in Kenya on 22 November 2022.
Personnel Information
The Pilot in Command (PIC) held an Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL) and had a total flying experience of 8,863 hours. The First Officer was also on board. Further personnel details were included in the investigation report.
Investigation
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Department (AAID) of the Ministry of Roads and Transport was notified by Wilson Airport Air Traffic Control and immediately deployed investigators. The occurrence was classified as an incident in accordance with ICAO Annex 13. Notifications were sent to the Dutch Safety Board (State of Design), the Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Investigation of Germany (State of Design of engines), the Air Accidents Investigation Branch of the United Kingdom (State of Manufacture of engines), and ICAO.
Findings
The investigation established that the aircraft veered off the runway during backtracking. No probable cause or contributing factors were explicitly stated in the released portion of the report. Safety recommendations were issued to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority regarding operational procedures.
Safety Recommendations
The AAID issued two safety recommendations to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) aimed at preventing similar incidents. Details of the recommendations are available in the full report.
References
This article is based on the Final Investigation Report 03/03/2024 by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Department, Ministry of Roads and Transport, Kenya.