Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary DEN90LA046

NEW YORK, NY, USA

Aircraft #1

N505UA

BOEING 757-222

Analysis

WHILE PREPARING FOR FLT IN A BOEING 757, THE 1ST OFFICER (FO) INADVERTENTLY COMPUTED THE TAKEOFF DATA BY USING THE BOEING 767 DATA. V1, VR & V2 SPEEDS WERE CALCULATED TO BE 115, 118 & 129 KTS. THE CORRECT SPEEDS SHOULD HAVE BEEN 145, 148 & 152 KTS. THE CAPT DID NOT CONFIRM THE V-SPEED COMPUTATION; BOTH PLTS SET THEIR AIRSPEED BUGS AT THE IMPROPER SPEEDS. DURING LIFT-OFF, THE ACFT WAS OVERROTATED & THE LOWER AFT FUSELAGE CONTACTED THE RWY. THE CREW NOTED A 'JOLT,' BUT ELECTED TO CONTINUE TO THEIR DESTN AFTER DISCUSSING THE SITUATION WITH MAINTENANCE PSNL. AFTER LANDING, DAMAGE WAS NOTED TO THE LOWER AFT SKIN, AFT PRESSURE BULKHEAD & ASSOCIATED STRUCTURE.

Probable Cause and Findings

OVERROTATION OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING TAKEOFF. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE FIRST OFFICER'S IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT MANUAL, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS IMPROPER CALCULATIONS OF THE ROTATION SPEED, AND INADEQUATE SUPERVISION CONCERNING VERIFICATION OF THE TAKEOFF DATA BY THE CAPTAIN.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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