B738, vicinity Bergerac France, 2015

B738, vicinity Bergerac France, 2015

Summary

On 29 January 2015, a Boeing 737-800 crew attempting to fly an NDB approach to Bergerac, with prior awareness that it would be necessary because of pre-notified ILS and DME unavailability, descended below 800 feet agl in IMC until an almost 1000 feet per minute descent when still over 8 nm from the runway threshold triggered an EGPWS ‘TERRAIN PULL UP’ warning and the simultaneous initiation of a go-around. The Investigation found that the PF First Officer was unfamiliar with NDB approaches but had not advised the Captain which resulted in confusion and loss of situational awareness by both pilots.

Description

On 29 January 2015, a Boeing 737-800 (EI-EMK) being operated by Ryanair on a scheduled international passenger flight from London Stansted to Bergerac received an EGPWS ‘TERRAIN PULL UP’ warning during an NDB approach to runway 28 at destination in day IMC and the crew simultaneously initiated a go-around. The minimum recorded height was approximately 720 feet agl. A subsequent NDB approach was completed without further event.

Investigation

An Investigation was commenced by the French Civil Aviation Accident Investigation Agency, the BEA, after notification of the event by ATC the following day. The FDR was removed from the aircraft and sent to the BEA where its data was successfully downloaded. Relevant CVR data was overwritten as the flight crew involved did not report the event until the aircraft had operated both the return flight to London and subsequent flights. Individual interviews with the two pilots were conducted for the Investigation by the Irish AAIU one week after the event had occurred.

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