What happened
On 14 May 2010, a Ryanair Boeing 737-800, registration EI-DYX, was operating a scheduled international flight from Stansted (EGSS) to Alicante (LEAL). While approaching Alicante, the crew encountered windshear on runway 10, necessitating a go-around. A subsequent attempt on runway 28 was also aborted due to unfavorable wind conditions, leading the crew to decide to divert to Valencia Airport (LEVC).
During the diversion, the crew initially issued a PAN-PAN urgency declaration because the remaining fuel was projected to be below the required final reserve. As the aircraft continued its approach to Valencia, the situation escalated, and the crew declared a MAYDAY fuel emergency. The aircraft landed safely on runway 12 at Valencia. Upon arrival, it was confirmed that the aircraft had landed with 956 kg of fuel, which was 183 kg below the calculated final reserve fuel.
The investigation
The CIAIAC examined the sequence of events involving the two aborted approaches at Alicante and the subsequent fuel management during the diversion to Valencia. The investigation reviewed the crew's communication with Air Traffic Control (ATC), specifically noting a period of confusion between the Valencia Approach and Tower controllers regarding the nature of the aircraft's declaration (urgency vs. emergency). The investigation also analyzed the meteorological conditions, including windshear and variable winds, that necessitated the diversion.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the depletion of fuel below the final reserve level due to the necessity of multiple go-arounds and a diversion caused by adverse weather.
- Windshear and highly variable wind conditions at Alicante Airport forced the initial aborted landing attempts.
- The crew's fuel calculations at the time of the decision to divert to Valencia led them to believe they had sufficient fuel, but the subsequent approach and handling of the emergency resulted in landing below the legal reserve.
- There was significant communication confusion between ATC units regarding the specific radiotelephony signals (PAN-PAN vs. MAYDAY) being used by the crew.