Description

On 29 August 2009, a Boeing 737-800 (7T-VJK) being operated by Air Algérie on a scheduled passenger flight from Lyon to Sétif, Algeria under callsign DAH1155 left the runway during the daylight take off roll in normal ground visibility before regaining the paved surface and completing the take off and continuing, damaged as a result of collision with obstructions, to destination. None of the 46 occupants were injured and damage to the aircraft other than multiple fan blade distortions and damage to both nosewheel tyres was minor.

Investigation

An Investigation was carried out by the French Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses (BEA). Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR) downloads covering the event were available to the Investigation as was the ATC ground radar recording and the marks made by the landing gear as the aircraft left the runway, travelled on the grass and then regained it (see the diagram below).

It was noted that the 57 year-old aircraft commander, who had overall flying experience commensurate with age, had been promoted to Captain with the operator after 20 years service as a First Officer almost 10 years prior to the investigated incident. He had logged 3500 hours in command on the Boeing NG. The 31 year-old First Officer was recorded in the Investigation Report as holding an Algerian PPL issued in 2005 and as having acquired just over 1000 hours experience on type out of 2100 hours in total, having joined the operator soon after issue of his PPL initially on the ATR 72.