Ryanair – Boeing B737-800AS (EI-DYG) flight FR4102

by | Jan 9, 2019 | Aviation Accident | 0 comments

Ryanair flight FR4102 accident occurred on 10 November 2008, at 06.56 ‘(07.56’ local), on the Rome Ciampino airport and involved the aircraft type B737-8AS registration marks EI-DYG.
On 10 November 2008, at 05.30′, the aircraft Boeing 737-8AS EI-DYG took off from Frankfurt Hahn airport (EDFH) to Rome Ciampino (LIRA), with 166 passengers and 6 crew members on board.
When approaching the destination airport, in a very short final, collided with a big flock of starlings.
At the sighting of the birds, the crew interrupted the landing procedure and performed a go-around maneuver, but both engines did not deliver the needed thrust ; as a result, the aircraft rapidly lost speed and altitude and impacted heavily the runway.

Ryanair flight FR4102
Final position of Ryanair flight FR4102

During the ground run, the left main landing gear of Ryanair flight FR4102 was detached from its own anchorages and the lower part of the fan cowl of the left engine came into contact with the runway.
The aircraft continued its run on the ground until it was completely stopped, abeam the threshold of RWY 33.
The 6 crew members and the 166 passengers carried out the evacuation of the aircraft without further inconveniences.

Ryanair flight FR4102
Final approach stage of Ryanair flight FR4102

The aeronautical literature, in the years following the event, underlined, through
articles, the criticality related to a go-around following a bird strike, for reasons e
considerations below:

  • the real extent of damage to the aircraft (in particular engines) may not be manifest until it is decided to apply power;
  • following a missed approach, the pilot could be in a situation in which the runway disappears under the nose of the aircraft, and at the same time, the same aircraft is not in a condition to fly;
  • to the revolutions of the engines characteristic of the approach phase, the damage can probably be within to the fan stage and do not affect the engine core;
  • the high engine rpm with which would take place following an attempt to go around after passing into the flock could result in damage greater to the engine and consequent loss of thrust.

The accident of Ryanair flight FR4102 was caused by an unexpected loss of thrust on both enginesconsequent to a massive impact with birds, during the go-around maneuver.
The loss of thrust prevented the crew from successfully carrying out the go-around and led the aircraft to a non-stabilized contact with the runway.

Ryanair flight FR4102
Damage to Ryanair flight FR4102

The following factors contributed to the event:

  • the inadequate effectiveness of the control and scaring measures of the avifauna placed on the date of the accident, by the airport manager;
  • the decision of the captain to carry out a go around when the aircraft was about 7 seconds from the touchdown with the runway. This last decision was however significantly influenced:
    — by the lack of indications to the flight crew regarding the procedures more suitable to be adopted in the case of single or multiple impacts with birds in the landing stage;
    — from the lack of specific crew training about “surprise” and “startle” effects in critical flight phases.

Download Original Report Download English Report
Aviation Accidents Database made an unofficial english translation of the original report : it is copyrighted, you are welcome to download it here and distribute under Creative Commons BY-NC-ND

Ryanair – Boeing B737-800AS (EI-DYG) flight FR4102

Event date: 20081110
Airline / Operator:Ryanair
Model: B737-800AS
Make: Boeing
Registration: EI-DYG
msn: 33639
Location: Rome Ciampino, Italy

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