What happened
A four-engine cargo flight destined for Vienna via Novosibirsk departed Seoul-Incheon Airport carrying 84 tons of automobile parts and 14 crew members. During the initial climb phase following takeoff from runway 25 at Novosibirsk-Tolmachevo Airport, the aircraft suffered a catastrophic failure of the number two engine. The resulting failure caused debris to penetrate the fuselage, which subsequently damaged the slats on both the left and right sides of the aircraft.
This mechanical failure led to a loss of electrical power and the interruption of radio communications. Additionally, the remaining three engines experienced a drop in thrust control. Despite the aircraft being overweight for an emergency landing, the crew initiated a return to the airport. Upon landing on runway 25, the crew attempted to decelerate, but the aircraft could not stop within the available runway length. The aircraft overran the runway, resulting in the loss of both nose landing gears. The plane slid into a snow-covered field, coming to a stop 300 metres from the runway end. There were no fatalities among the 14 crew members, though the aircraft sustained damage that appeared to be beyond repair.
Findings
- The primary event was a catastrophic failure of the second engine during the initial climb.
- Debris from the engine failure caused structural damage to the fuselage and flight control surfaces (slats).
- The failure of the engine led to secondary systems failures, including loss of power and communication.
- The aircraft's weight exceeded the safe limits for an emergency landing at the time of the return.