Description

On 11 January 2010, a British Aerospace ATP being operated by West Air Sweden on a cargo flight from Helsinki to Copenhagen with only the two operating flight crew on board at night could not be rotated for take off on runway 22R. The ensuing rejected take off in normal ground visibility was achieved within the available runway length and the aircraft was undamaged and returned to the apron.

Investigation

An Investigation into the incident was carried out by the Swedish Accident Investigation Board (SHK) following delegation of responsibility by the AIB Finland because the Swedish-domiciled operator of the aircraft involved was also the largest single operator of the aircraft type. The Investigation determined that the issues involved in the investigated incident had been seen beyond the specific aircraft type involved and whilst the Investigation remained focused on the aircraft type involved, it was judged as a result of extensive testing and analysis, that similar issues relating to the use of thickened ground de/anti icing fluids were also relevant to other aircraft types and the eventual Safety Recommendations made were therefore generic.

It was established that the incident aircraft had undergone a normal two step ground de/anti icing procedure prior to departure and noted that this had involved an initial application of hot water mixed with Type I fluid followed by an application of thickened fluid, in this case Type IV, the exact product used being “Clariant Safewing MP IV Launch". The aircraft commander had been the designated PF.