B77L, Paris CDG France, 2015

B77L, Paris CDG France, 2015

Summary

On 22 May 2015, a Boeing 777F augmented crew attempted a reduced thrust daylight takeoff from Paris CDG using a thrust setting based on a weight 100 tonnes below the actual weight after an undetected crew error. The tailstrike protection system prevented fuselage runway contact after rotation attempts but only after a call from an augmenting crew member was full thrust set with the aircraft becoming airborne near the runway end. The Investigation noted poor crew performance but concluded that operator management of the risk involved and the corresponding regulatory oversight had been inadequate in a number of ways.

Description

On 22 May 2015, a Boeing 777F (F-GUOC) being operated by Air France on a scheduled cargo flight (4U9525) from Paris CDG to Mexico City with an augmented crew commenced a daylight takeoff on runway 26R with thrust set for a takeoff weight of 243 tonnes instead of the actual weight of 343 tonnes. Automatic activation of the tail strike protection system during rotation was followed after no response from the operating crew by a call of "TO/GA" from one of the augmenting crew and the aircraft becoming airborne just before the end of the runway with an eventual resumption of a normal climb.

Investigation

An Investigation was carried out by the French Civil Aviation Accident Investigation Agency, the BEA. QAR flight data was used to assist the Investigation.

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