What happened
On the night of 9 September 2007, a McDonnell Douglas MD83, registration OE-LRW, was preparing for a charter flight from Åre/Östersund Airport in Sweden to Antalya, Turkey. The flight was operated by a company leasing the aircraft from an Austrian operator.
During the takeoff roll on runway 30, the aircraft failed to lift off within the expected distance. The aircraft reached the end of the runway and struck the approach lighting system intended for the opposite runway. The collision caused damage to the lighting fixtures and reflective snow poles located up to 85 meters from the runway end. The aircraft continued the flight to its destination without further incident.
The investigation
The Swedish Accident Investigation Authority (SHK) examined the aircraft's weight and balance documentation, the crew's performance calculations, and the actual environmental conditions at the time of departure. The investigation included a survey of passenger masses to verify the accuracy of the load sheet.
Investigators also reviewed the company's operational procedures, specifically focusing on the recruitment of the cockpit crew and the balance between commercial production requirements and flight safety. The investigation scrutinized the manual calculations performed by the crew, which included the takeoff performance planning and the load and trim sheet preparation.
Findings
Several critical factors contributed to the incident:
- The aircraft's actual takeoff mass was 3,148 kg above the maximum permitted weight for the prevailing meteorological conditions.
- The crew's performance calculations were incomplete, as they failed to account for a tailwind and current atmospheric pressure.
- Significant discrepancies existed in the weight data; the crew omitted 29 pieces of baggage from their calculations, and the actual passenger mass was 568 kg higher than the standard weights used in the load sheet.
- The takeoff rotation was initiated late and at a rate lower than normal, causing the aircraft to remain on the runway longer than required.
- The crew prioritized production over safety, likely due to the financial pressure to avoid flight delays or payload reductions.
- The pilots had not been recruited through the company's standard selection and employment routines.
Safety action
The SHK recommended that the Swedish Transport Agency increase the frequency of Safety Assessment of Foreign Aircraft (SAFA) inspections, specifically focusing on verifying operational documentation. Additionally, the agency was advised to work with the Austrian Civil Aviation Authority to ensure the operator improves its Safety Management System, crew training, and recruitment procedures.