NEW DELHI: The Aircraft Accidents Investigations Bureau (AAIB) has recommended the aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) carry out a one-time check of all the training records of fixed wing pilots, particularly of non-scheduled flights, in order to ensure safety of passengers and crew.
This figured among the ten safety recommendations made by the bureau in its final report submitted on Saturday on the Learjet aircraft accident at Mumbai in September 2023 which resulted in injuries to all eight people on board.
The accident on September 14, involving the 45XR aircraft (registration: VT-DBL) owned by VSR Ventures Ltd, flying from Vishakapatnam to Mumbai, resulted in varied injuries to both pilots, a flight attendant and all the five passengers on board after it crashed at the taxiway intersection of Runway 27 causing a fire.
The probe report held the crew responsible for the mishap as they tried to land before the time restrictions for non-scheduled operations kick-in at Mumbai International Airport. Non-scheduled operations are not permitted at the airport daily between these two time periods: 8 am to 10 am and 5.30 pm to 7.30 pm. The crew should have opted for a go-around of the plane in line with standard operating procedures since the approach was not stable, the report established. The rainy weather too was a contributory factor.
Among the safety recommendations made to the regulator, it also asked the DGCA to re-look the training requirements and incorporate stall recovery during landing. “The pilots during each simulator training shall undergo training exercises of recovery from a full stall, or other activation of the stall warning device in climb, cruise, approach and landing configurations,” it added.
The report also asked DGCA to issue a specific direction to all non-scheduled operators and general aviation operators to adhere to the laid down procedures in which pilots are sensitised to carry out a go-around during any time of the approach if it is not stabilised. It has also asked the regulator to ensure that internal audits are carried out and their effectiveness checked during the surveillance of these organisations.
Sharing details of the accident, the report said the flight was within its approach path when it came in contact with Mumbai tower at 4.58 pm. However, heavy rain was prevailing during the time. “The crew called out Approach/runway lights in sight” and subsequently the autopilot was disengaged at about 364 feet. However, the approach thereafter became unstable.
“The probable cause was the flight crew’s decision to continue the un-stabilised approach under marginal weather conditions and inappropriate handling of aircraft investigation which led to an aerodynamic stall at low altitude from which the aircraft did not recover. “The flight crew’s non adherence to SOP for delay in calling out for no-ground” was responsible it pointed out.
The visibility at the time of the accident was 800 and the runway visibility was 1000m due to heavy rain prevailing in the area. It hampered the flight crew’s visual cues “During the approach, the tail wind component varied between 8 and 10 knots which again hampered the approach Hence, weather was a contributory factor to the accident.”
