What happened
On 2D November 2021, a Mitsubishi CRJ900 (registration C-GJZV) operated by Jazz Aviation LP departed San Diego International Airport for Vancouver. During the takeoff roll on Runway 27, the aircraft drifted to the left of the centerline, causing the left main landing gear to strike three runway edge lights. While the crew corrected the trajectory, the impact caused a deflated tire and damage to the aircraft's flaps.
During the climb, the flight crew identified a fuel imbalance that could not be rectified. This prompted the crew to shut down the right engine and declare an emergency. The aircraft diverted to Los Angeles International Airport, where it landed safely. There were no injuries among the 69 passengers or the four crew members on board.
The investigation
The investigation focused on two unrelated events: the runway misalignment and the fuel imbalance. Regarding the takeoff, investigators examined visibility conditions, which were characterized by night and fog with visibility between 1/4 and 1/2 statute mile. The investigation also reviewed the airport's operational environment and the procedures used by the crew during the line-up phase.
For the fuel imbalance, the investigation looked into cockpit switch inputs, the effectiveness of manufacturer and operator checklists, and the specific mechanics of the fuel transfer during flight.
Findings
- Runway misalignment: The captain's decision to taxi off the taxiway centerline to increase available takeoff distance reduced visual cues. In the low visibility, the captain mistook a left runway edge marking for the centerline. This was compounded by the lack of threshold markings in the displaced threshold area.
- Operational pressure: High traffic volume at San Diego International created perceived time pressure. The first officer was performing line-up checks while the aircraft was still moving, leading to a failure to monitor the aircraft's lateral position.
- Unnoticed damage: The crew did not realize they had struck runway lights because the vibrations and sounds were mistaken for hitting embedded centerline lights. The resulting debris remained on the runway for several hours because the airport lacks a foreign object debris detection system.
- Fuel imbalance: The crew likely accidentally activated the gravity crossflow switch instead of the auto-override switch during checklists. This allowed fuel to shift between tanks during turns.
- Inadequate guidance: Ambiguous instructions in both manufacturer and operator checklists regarding fuel imbalance procedures contributed to the crew's inability to stabilize the fuel levels.
Safety action
- Jazz Aviation LP updated its airport charts to warn of the risks associated with departing from displaced threshold areas.
- The operator issued a company memo regarding departures from these areas and revised its line-up and gravity crossfeed procedures to provide clearer guidance.