Description

On 18 October 2011, a Boeing 777-300 being operated by Etihad Airways on a scheduled passenger service from Manila, Philippines to Abu Dhabi UAE with an augmented flight crew encountered severe turbulence in the cruise in night Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC). Two serious injuries and 12 minor injuries were sustained by the occupants as a result and some superficial impact damage occurred to the passenger cabin internal trim.

Investigation

The Incident occurred in international waters and the Investigation was conducted by the Air Accident Investigation Sector (AAIS) of General CAA of the State of the Operator, the UAE. The failure of the aircraft operator to notify the event to the GCAA resulted in the relevant Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) recording having being overwritten by the time the unit was removed but DFDR and QAR data was successfully obtained. In respect of the 2 hour CVR, it was also found that in apparent breach of regulatory requirements, it was only capable of recording the area channel for that period and the four separate channels for only 30 minutes.

It was noted that the aircraft commander had completed his upgrade to a first command less than three months previously and that the Operating First Officer was making only his fourth flight following release from type conversion training for unrestricted operation on the aircraft type.