B748, Tokyo Narita Japan, 2017

B748, Tokyo Narita Japan, 2017

Summary

On 15 July 2017, a Boeing 747-8F close to its maximum takeoff weight only became airborne just before the end of the 2,500 metre-long north runway at Narita after the reduced thrust applicable to the much longer south runway was used for the takeoff and the aircraft cleared the upwind runway threshold by only 16 feet. The Investigation found that the very experienced Captain and the very inexperienced First Officer had both failed to follow elements of the applicable takeoff performance change procedures after the departure runway anticipated during pre-start flight preparations prior to ATC clearance delivery had changed.

Description

On 15 July 2017, a Boeing 747-8F (N852GT) being operated by Polar Air Cargo Worldwide on a scheduled international cargo flight from Narita to Shanghai Pudong as PO213 only became airborne just before the end of the runway during its night VMC takeoff. The aircraft did not hit any obstructions but came close enough for its jet blast to disable security sensors installed on the extended centreline of the runway.

Investigation

After an airport security camera recorded images of the departing aircraft flying low over the area just beyond the end of the departure runway, it was found that some of the intrusion warning sensors in that vicinity had been disconnected. An inspection of the aircraft after landing at Shanghai found that it was undamaged so it was concluded that the sensor damage had been a consequence of jet blast rather than contact. The event was classified as a Serious Incident and an Investigation was carried out by the Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB). By the time the FDR and CVR could be accessed, data from the flight under investigation had been overwritten so they were not removed. However, relevant data were available from the QAR.

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