B738, Belfast International UK, 2017

B738, Belfast International UK, 2017

Summary

On 21 July 2017, a Boeing 737-800 taking off from Belfast was only airborne near the runway end of the runway and then only climbed at a very shallow angle until additional thrust was eventually added. The Investigation found that the thrust set had been based on an incorrectly input surface temperature of -52°C, the expected top of climb temperature, instead of the actual surface temperature. Although inadequate acceleration had been detected before V1, the crew did not intervene. It was noted that neither the installed FMC software nor the EFBs in use were conducive to detection of the data input error.

Description

On 21 July 2017, a Boeing 737-800 (C-FWGH) being operated by Sunwing Airlines on behalf of Thompson Airways (since renamed TUI Airways) on a non-scheduled international passenger flight from Belfast International to Corfu as TOM1526 began its takeoff from intersection ‘D’ on runway 07 in day VMC. After using almost all the available 2654 metre TORA, the aircraft was observed climbing away at a very shallow angle over generally flat terrain. After just over 2 nm and approximately 800 feet aal, additional thrust was added, a normal rate of climb was established and thereafter the flight was completed without further event. The aircraft was subsequently found to have struck an approach light 36cm tall which was located 29 metres beyond the end of the runway, but to have been undamaged by this impact.

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