E190, vicinity Honiara Solomon Islands, 2024

E190, vicinity Honiara Solomon Islands, 2024

Summary

On 23 February 2024, an Embraer E190 lost airspeed during initial climb after departing Honiara without either pilot initially noticing it. When one did notice, the response, a partial flap retraction, increased the loss of control risk. But the other pilot then realised what corrective action was required and took it. The origin of the problem was found to have been pilot error in preflight guidance panel setup, and delayed recognition of the consequences after takeoff. The underlying origin of the circumstances encountered was assessed as inappropriate preflight standard operating procedures and inconsistency in the content of two Embraer manuals. 

Description

On 23 February 2024, an Embraer ERJ 190 (VH-UYI) operated by Australian carrier Alliance Airlines for Solomon Airlines on a scheduled passenger flight from Honiara to Brisbane as IE700 lost airspeed during initial climb in day visual meteorological conditions (VMC) and in uncontrolled airspace without either pilot initially noticing. When one of them did notice, the response, partially retracting the flaps, worsened the low-speed risk. The other pilot then recognised the source of the problem and acted accordingly to recover the aircraft from a low-speed state.

Investigation

An investigation was carried out by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB). Data from the quick-access recorder (QAR) was available to support the accounts given by the flight crew. The captain had 17,000 hours flying experience, and the first officer 13,000 hours, but aircraft type experience was not given for either pilot.

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