Description

On 25 November 2004, a V2500 powered Airbus A320 being operated by MyTravel Airways UK on a passenger flight from Narvik to Norwich UK lost directional control during the early stages of an attempted night take off from surface-contaminated runway 35 in normal visibility and the aircraft departed the left side of the runway. The aircraft stopped short distance off the paved surface and the occupants were subsequently evacuated from the rear of the aircraft using normal aircraft steps before being taken back to the terminal by bus. Damage to the aircraft was minor and confined to the NLG.

Investigation

An Investigation was carried out by the Accident Investigation Board Norway (AIBN) with DFDR and CVR data available. It was found that the First Officer, who had only recently qualified on the aircraft type, had been designated as PF despite recognition of the potentially challenging departure conditions by the aircraft commander

It was noted that before and after the accident, the wind had been light and variable along the length of the runway averaging about 6 knots with good visibility in light Snow and an air temperature around minus 4-5°C.

The flight crew were aware prior to departure that the runway surface was covered with dry snow overlying sanded ice giving and during taxi out were informed by ATC that the braking coefficients for runway 35 were 32/32/30 and therefore satisfied the minimum permitted braking action of “MEDIUM” under the MyTravel Airways SOPs.