Crash of a Boeing 747-228F in Brussels

Date & Time: Oct 27, 2008 at 1600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OO-CBA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Brussels – Dakar – Campinas
MSN:
24158/714
YOM:
1988
Flight number:
BB3101
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
11360
Captain / Total hours on type:
260.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3536
Copilot / Total hours on type:
570
Aircraft flight hours:
82357
Aircraft flight cycles:
15773
Circumstances:
The aircraft took off from Brussels airport at 15:00 UTC. Upon rotation, the crew heard an abnormal noise, and had difficulties to get the aircraft in the air. After adjusting the engine power, the aircraft took off. Observers on the ground saw two white clouds appearing successively under the tail of the aircraft upon rotation, followed by flames. The inspection of the runway revealed that parts separated from the aircraft, amongst which the APU access door. The aircraft dumped the excess of fuel and landed back in Brussels at 16.20 UTC. Inspection on the ground revealed that large portions of the underside skin of the tail section were missing.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by an inadequate take-off performance calculation, due to wrong gross weight data input error in the software used for the computation of the takeoff performance parameters and the failure to comply with the operator’s SOP for checking the validity of the data.
Contributing factor(s):
- Inadequate pairing of crew members with low experience.
- Lack of distraction management.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 747-209BSF in Bogotá: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 7, 2008 at 0352 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N714CK
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bogotá – Miami
MSN:
22446/519
YOM:
1981
Country:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
8874
Captain / Total hours on type:
2874.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
11373
Copilot / Total hours on type:
2853
Aircraft flight hours:
90613
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Bogotá-El Dorado Airport, while climbing by night, the crew informed ATC about engine problems and was cleared for an immediate return. After the crew realized he could not make it, he attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft collided with a farm and crashed in an open field. While all 8 crew members were injured (five seriously), two people in the farm were killed. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces.
Probable cause:
The inability of the accident aircraft to maintain flight after the loss of power of two engines.
The following contributing factors were identified:
A non-recoverable surge on the engine n°4 during the rotation, resulting in a loss of engine power. Contributing to the surge were the combined effects of the inefficient high pressure turbine, excessive blade-tip clearance, reduced cord of the fan blades and of the leading edges and the effects of high altitude. An undetermined anomaly in the engine n°1, which manifested itself during the extra power, resulted in loss of engine power. Contributing to the loss of engine power was inadequate n°1 operation to maintain the proper speed during the ascent of the aircraft, resulting in extra power use and, in turn, exposing the anomaly of the engine.
Final Report: