Description

On 18 July 2018, an Airbus A330-300 (9M-MTK) being operated by Malaysia Airlines on a scheduled international passenger flight from Brisbane to Kuala Lumpur as MH 134 got airborne in night VMC at approximately 175 knots despite the fact that neither pilot had any airspeed indications throughout the 45 second takeoff roll. Thereafter, it took an hour to resolve the resultant aircraft control flight management problems and complete a return to an overweight landing which was accompanied by minor damage to the main landing gear bay doors caused by runway surface contact due to their non-retraction after free-fall landing gear extension had been necessary.  

Investigation

A Serious Incident Investigation into the event was carried out by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB). Relevant data was obtained from the FDR and the CVR as well as recorded data from both ATC data and Brisbane Airport CCTV. 

It was noted that the Captain, had been employed by Malaysia Airlines for 25 years, had a total of 14,411 hours flying experience which included 555 hours on type after transferring from the operator’s Boeing 737 fleet in May 2017. Exercising the privileges of his Air Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) was restricted by the requirement that he must fly only as or with a Co-Pilot. The First Officer had a total of 6,544 hours flying experience which included 4,582 hours on type. He had been employed by the operator since 2009, initially on the Boeing 737 before transferring to the Airbus A330 fleet in 2011. Both pilots had arrived in Brisbane two days earlier and had an adequate rest period which precluded any fatigue.