What happened
On 3 August 2008, a Boeing 767-200, registration Z-WPE, was performing a commercial passenger flight from Harare to London Gatwick Airport. While the aircraft was on final approach, the crew experienced an unusual rolling motion after selecting flaps to 15°. The aircraft stabilized quickly, and the landing proceeded without further incident. Following the flight, a post-landing external inspection by the crew revealed that the right overwing escape slide compartment was open and the slide itself had departed the aircraft. The separation caused minor dents and skin perforable damage to the fuselage area just aft of the right wing's trailing edge. A deflated slide was later recovered from the approach path to Gatwick and identified as belonging to the aircraft.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft's hardware and maintenance records. It was determined that the escape hatch itself had remained securely latched and the door opening actuators had not been triggered. However, the inflation cylinder for the slide had discharged. Maintenance records showed that a recent input to the system had occurred on 5 July 2008, after which the compartment door had been closed and latched. While Boeing conducted a limited investigation, they were unable to examine the specific hardware involved, similar to the limitations faced by the AAIB.
Findings
- The separation of the slide was likely caused by the opening of the escape slide compartment.
- The escape hatch and door actuators remained intact and did not initiate the opening.
- The inflation cylinder had discharged, suggesting the slide inflated while the compartment was not properly secured.
- The incident is categorized as a combination of incomplete latching and potential misrigging or component wear, rather than an in-compartment inflation event.