B734, Barcelona Spain, 2004
B734, Barcelona Spain, 2004
Summary
On 28 November 2004, a KLM B737-400 departed laterally from the runway on landing at Barcelona due to the effects on the nosewheel steering of a bird strike which had occured as the aircraft took off from Amsterdam.
Flight Details
Aircraft
Operator
Type of Flight
Public Transport (Passenger)
Flight Origin
Intended Destination
Take-off Commenced
Yes
Flight Airborne
Yes
Flight Completed
No
Phase of Flight
Landing
Location
Location - Airport
Airport
BS
Tag(s)
Significant Airframe Damage
RE
Tag(s)
Overrun on Landing,
Directional Control,
Off side of Runway
EPR
Tag(s)
Emergency Evacuation,
MAYDAY declaration,
RFFS Procedures
CS
Tag(s)
Evacuation slides deployed,
Flight Crew Evacuation Command
AW
System(s)
Equipment / Furnishings,
Landing Gear
Contributor(s)
Maintenance Error (valid guidance available),
Damage Tolerance,
Pilot verbal-only defect communication
Outcome
Damage or injury
Yes
Aircraft damage
Hull loss
Non-aircraft damage
Yes
Non-occupant Casualties
No
Occupant Injuries
Few occupants
Occupant Fatalities
None
Off Airport Landing
Yes
Ditching
Yes
Causal Factor Group(s)
Group(s)
Aircraft Operation
Aircraft Technical
Safety Recommendation(s)
Group(s)
Aircraft Operation
Aircraft Airworthiness
Airport Management
Investigation Type
Type
Independent
Cite This Page
SKYbrary Aviation Safety. (June 2, 2023). B734, Barcelona Spain, 2004. EUROCONTROL.
Retrieved February 2, 2026
from https://skybrary.aero/accidents-and-incidents/b734-barcelona-spain-2004
UID: 20284
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Description
On 28 November 2004, a KLM B737-400 departed laterally from the runway on landing at Barcelona due to the effects on the nosewheel steering of a bird strike which had occured as the aircraft took off from Amsterdam.
Synopsis
The following is an extract from the synopsis of the Accident Report published by the Spanish CAIAIC:
"During the takeoff…from Amsterdam to Barcelona, the aircraft suffered a bird strike in the area of the nose landing gear during rotation. The crew informed ATC and the flight continued without any abnormal indication in the cockpit. During the landing roll at Barcelone, when the nose wheels touched down, the aircraft started deviating to the left of runway 25R. The flight crew applied right rudder, brakes and used the nose wheel steering tiller but could not avoid that the aircraft went off the runway through the unprepared terrain located to the left of runway 25R. The aircraft suffered major damage during that run until it eventually came to a stop close to a wide rain drainage canal located 107m from the runway axis.
An emergency evacuation was carried out in which 5 passengers suffered minor injuries. There was no fire.
The investigation determined that the accident probably happened because during the takeoff a bird strike broke one of the cables of the nosewheel steering system of the aircraft, which made that the nose wheels were rotated to the left when they touched down during landing, causing a veering to the left that could not be arrested by full rudder deflection as the aircraft decelerated. The subsequent application of brakes and other actions by the crew could not avoid that the aircraft went outside the runway surface.
…Contributing to the breaking of the cable was the fact that the cable was severely worn locally. The wear could be traced back to the incorrect application of grease to the cable system during maintenance…."
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Further Reading
- For further information, see the full CAIAIC Report into the incident
