B777 flight crew reported a track deviation occurred after being distracted by wake turbulence from a preceding heavy Airbus while departing EWR. The flight crew also failed to notice the FMC was improperly programmed and did not have the proper departure procedure loaded.
Synopsis
B777 flight crew reported a track deviation occurred after being distracted by wake turbulence from a preceding heavy Airbus while departing EWR. The flight crew also failed to notice the FMC was improperly programmed and did not have the proper departure procedure loaded.
Narrative
At the gate all responsibilities were accomplished including all briefings prior to push. We pushed back and taxied out to Runway 4L via Taxiway Bravo. The Before Takeoff Checklist was accomplished. I heard the Captain read back the departure portion of the checklist. I did not see it on the FMC as I was looking outside when the FO was heads down running the checklist. Tower cleared a heavy jet for takeoff. They then gave us line up and wait instructions and shortly after; we were cleared for takeoff. While departing Runway 4L; the Captain was the pilot flying. I was the Relief Pilot in the center seat. We encountered wake turbulence at roughly 500 ft. The Captain was hand-flying. At this time I noticed we were going through 600 ft. and I looked down on my iPad to verify we were supposed to be making a right turn to 055 at 500 ft. As I was speaking up along with the other Relief Pilot saying we have to turn right; ATC questioned us about the noncompliance with the turn on the SID. At this time we were coming through 1000 ft. and they gave us a left turn and queried us on why we did not comply with the SID; to which we responded we were encountering wake turbulence. Initially I thought the wake turbulence was a distraction; which it might have been and the Captain was flying and maintaining control of the aircraft. We were given another left turn direct ELVAE and passed over to Departure. We continued to 18;000 ft. at which time we debriefed the incident. Wake turbulence was a factor. However; the SID was not programmed in the FMC. The rest of the flight was uneventful. It is my understanding that when the clearance was pushed to the FMC it knocked out the departure procedure. I missed it on the Before Takeoff Checklist. I heard both the FO and Captain but I did not visually see it as I was looking outside.
Second reporter narrative
My role in this event was the second observer seated behind the FO. At the gate the FO loaded the route with SID and it was verified. We received our CPDLC departure clearance which had a route clearance attached with a load option. The flying pilots loaded the new route and accepted the clearance; however did not notice that the load option from CPDLC uplink deleted the SID. The Before Takeoff Checklist run and proper responses were given by the flying pilots. However; as the sitting in the second jumpseat I was unable to see the FO inputs into his FMC verifying the checklist was done properly and the route verification with runway and SID with transition was not reinstalled into the FMC. Departing Runway 4L on the EWR 5 Departure has you fly runway heading to 500 ft. and then a right turn to Heading 055. The Captain was flying and after takeoff around 500 ft. where we should have made the right turn; we encountered some wake turbulence from Aircraft Y departing before us. In the wake we banked slightly left and both myself and the first observer spoke up saying we need to turn right to Heading 055. The Captain began a turn to Heading 055 once we told them the SID wasn't in the box and he needed to turn right. At that time ATC called and asked why we weren't flying the SID and would then issue us an assigned heading.
More incidents for this aircraft family →
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.