Ilyushin takeoff accident at Baku Airport

3 fatalities • Baku-Heydar Aliyev (Bina), Azerbaijan • Takeoff (climb)

An Ilyushin cargo flight operating from Ankara to Kabul crashed during takeoff from Baku, Azerbaijan, after the aircraft failed to rotate properly and the engines were inadvertently shut down.

What happened

A cargo flight traveling from Ankara, Turkey, to Kabul, Afghanistan, via Baku, Azerbaijan, experienced a critical failure during its departure from Baku. The Ilyushin aircraft had been loaded with nearly 40,000 kg of cargo and refueled with 47 tons of fuel, resulting in a takeoff weight of 189 tons. During a lengthy stopover in Baku, the crew remained onboard the aircraft.

As the aircraft began taxiing for departure, the flight engineer intended to set the flaps to 30 degrees and the slats to 14 degrees; however, this configuration was never actually implemented. Crucially, the crew failed to verify the flap position before the takeoff roll began. Consequently, the aircraft departed with the flaps and slats fully retracted, while the stabilizer remained trimmed for a takeoff configuration that assumed 30-degree flaps.

During the takeoff roll, the pilot attempted to lift the nose gear at 210 km/h, but the aircraft failed to rotate at the calculated unstick speed of 265 km/h. As the aircraft accelerated to 290 km/h, the angle of attack increased to 14.5 degrees, triggering an onboard warning. The rear of the fuselage eventually made contact with the runway at approximately 1,750 meters into the roll. Although the aircraft finally lifted off the ground at 300 km/h, it began rolling to the left until a wing struck the surface.

During this period of instability, the flight engineer realized the configuration error and began extending the flaps and slats without notifying the captain. Simultaneously, the engineer moved the four engine power levers to idle and then to the shutdown position without informing the pilot. Despite the captain's repeated commands to continue the takeoff, the engines had already been deactivated. After traveling 490 meters in the air, the aircraft impacted the ground, resulting in a crash.

Findings

  • The aircraft departed with the flaps and slats in a retracted position despite the intended takeoff configuration.
  • The crew failed to verify the flap and slat settings prior to takeoff.
  • The flight engineer performed engine shutdown procedures and configuration changes without communicating these actions to the pilot in command.

Probable cause

The accident was caused by the failure to deploy takeoff flaps and slats, compounded by the flight engineer's uncommunicated shutdown of the engines during the takeoff roll.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2004-03-04 Ilyushin II-76 accident near Baku-Heydar Aliyev (Bina), Azerbaijan?

An Ilyushin cargo flight operating from Ankara to Kabul crashed during takeoff from Baku, Azerbaijan, after the aircraft failed to rotate properly and the engines were inadvertently shut down.

Were there any fatalities in the 2004-03-04 Ilyushin II-76 accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 3 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2004-03-04 involved a Ilyushin II-76, registration UR-ZVA, operated by Azov-Avia Airlines, at Baku-Heydar Aliyev (Bina), Azerbaijan.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The accident was caused by the failure to deploy takeoff flaps and slats, compounded by the flight engineer's uncommunicated shutdown of the engines during the takeoff roll.

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