Occurrence
On 18 January 2016, an Embraer EMB 120 ER 'Brasilia' with registration EC-JBD was operating a cargo flight from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to London Stansted Airport. The aircraft carried two pilots. After takeoff from runway 24, the flight proceeded to London. Upon arrival, ground crew discovered holes in the right-hand side of the fuselage. The propeller blades were damaged, and a metal wire was embedded in the leading edge of one blade.
Investigation Findings
The Dutch Safety Board investigated the occurrence. During an inspection of runway 24 at Schiphol, a bird controller noted that seven runway edge lights were destroyed. The investigation revealed that the aircraft had performed a misaligned takeoff from runway 24. The pilots had interpreted the right-hand side runway edge lights as the runway centreline lights. During the takeoff roll, the nose landing gear struck multiple runway edge lights, causing them to become loose and contact parts of the aircraft, resulting in damage.
Follow-Up Actions
The Safety Board issued three recommendations. To the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), it recommended developing a standard for runway edge lights that would allow pilots to identify them without reference to other lights or features. To Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AAS), it recommended proactive measures to prevent pilots from misinterpreting edge lights as centreline lights. To Air Traffic Control the Netherlands (LVNL), it recommended allowing takeoffs outside uniform daylight only from intersections with centreline lighting.
AAS and LVNL conducted a joint investigation. They extended the taxiway centre line to the centre of runway 24, improving guidance and reducing the risk of misalignment. Further measures were considered but not implemented due to potential non-compliance with ICAO/EASA standards and possible confusion. The Safety Board assessed AAS's follow-up as adequate but noted that without international standards, the risk remains.
LVNL did not implement recommendation 3, primarily for capacity reasons. The Safety Board found the arguments unconvincing and assessed the follow-up as inadequate. The Safety Board noted that no further incidents involving runway edge lighting at Schiphol had been reported since the investigation.