Description

On 15 July 2018, an Airbus 220-300 (HB-JCC) being operated by Swiss International Airlines on a scheduled international passenger flight from Porto to Geneva as LX 2077 failed to get airborne in normal visibility at night until much nearer the end of the runway than should have been the case, after it was realised that the thrust initially set for takeoff was insufficient and it had been increased accordingly. The remainder of the flight was without further event.

Investigation

No notification of the event was made to either to the Portuguese Air and Rail Accident Investigation Agency (GPIAAF) or the Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (STSB) until the latter was advised of it 9 days later. After passing this information to the GPIAAF, they delegated investigation to the STSB who then carried out a comprehensive investigation. Relevant data on the CVR had long since been overwritten but DFDR data was downloaded and recorded ATC data from Porto was also retrieved.

It was noted that the Captain (born 1959 and a Swiss national) who had been PF for the investigated flight, had a total of 14,766 flying hours of which 301 hours were on type and that the First Officer (born 1984 and also a Swiss national) had a total of 1,783 flying hours of which 397 hours were on type. It was additionally noted that the flight from Porto to Geneva was the crew’s second sector since beginning their current flight duty period after being free of duty for in excess of 20 hours at Geneva.