Description

On 3 November 2019, a Boeing 787-8 (N796AV) being operated by Avianca on an international scheduled passenger flight from Bogota to Barcelona as AVA018 with an augmented flight crew was in the descent to destination when the airspeed began to increase towards Vmo as the Captain was making a flight progress announcement to the passengers. He responded primarily by disconnecting the AP and abruptly pulling back on and then releasing the control column which led to an abrupt change in vertical acceleration and two serious injuries in the cabin, one to a member of the cabin crew. The remaining 259 persons on board were unaffected by the upset.   

Investigation

An Investigation was carried out by the Spanish Commission for the Investigation of Accidents and Incidents (CIAIAC). Relevant flight data had been available from the QAR but such data on the CVR had been overwritten. Crew statements and recorded ATC data were also available.

It was noted that the flight crew consisted of a 53 year-old Captain, who was acting as PF at the time of the upset, had a total of 14,078 flying hours which included 1,580 hours on type, a 28 year-old First Officer who had a total of 3,166 flying hours which included 1,864 hours on type and a 26 year-old Relief First Officer who had a total of 2,895 flying hours which included 485 hours on type. The Relief First Officer was occupying a supernumerary crew seat in the flight deck at the time of the investigated event.