Description

On 7 December 2003, a Boeing 737-800 being operated by SAS on a passenger charter flight from Salzburg, Austria to Stockholm Arlanda with an intermediate stop at Goteborg made a high speed rejected take off during the departure from Goteborg because of an un-commanded premature rotation. There were no injuries to any occupants and no damage to the aircraft which taxied back to the gate.

Investigation

An investigation into the Incident was carried out by the Accident Investigation Board Sweden. It was found that the airline was operating a series charter flight from Salzburg to Stockholm with an intermediate stop at Göteborg to allow 59 of the passengers to leave (but none to join). After this, 121 remained. Whilst on the ground at Goteborg, the cabin crew noted that most of the remaining passengers were sitting towards the back of the cabin. This was pointed out to the commander, who decided not to take any action until he had seen the loadsheet. When this arrived, it showed that the passengers were evenly distributed in the cabin and that the mass and balance limitations in force were met. The First Officer had been designated PF. After the take off roll commenced, as the aircraft was approaching 80 knots, PF noted that aircraft nose was lifting spontaneously without him moving the control column. He advised the aircraft commander who took over the control and rejected the takeoff.