WestJet Rewards - Westjet Incident At YHZ

The wing on WS178 (YYZ-YHZ) came in contact with the runway while landing at YHZ Christams night.

Here's a link to the story in the Halifax Herald:

http://tinyurl.com/ccdxo

Thank God no one was injured. !

Thank God no one was injured. !

I'll second that.

At 2325Z WJA798, Boeing 737-700, enroute from Toronto (CYYZ) to Halifax (CYHZ) landed on Runway 14. At 0011Z the Airport Duty Manager told the tower that Runway 14 was closed for an inspection as WJA798 had struck a wing tip on landing. No debris was found and runway was reopened at 0031Z. The ADM went over to inspect the aircraft. At 0029Z the WJA dispatch advised the tower that the aircraft had suffered significant structural damage. At 0040Z the ADM advised the tower that Runway 14 was closed again and he was re-inspecting it. This time parts of the aircraft were found. At this time the runway is still closed. NOC, TSB and CACO have been advised. TSB Investigating.


Date: 2005/12/30
Further Action Required: No
O.P.I.: Commercial & Business Aviation
Narrative: UPDATE TSB A05A0161: WJA798, a Westjet Boeing 737-700, was landing on Runway 14 at Halifax when the left wingtip, position light, outboard slat and flap canoe contacted the runway. The flight crew was unaware of the incident until the aircraft was parked at the terminal gate at which time ground personnel informed the crew of the damage. There were no injuries and the aircraft has been removed from service until repairs can be affected. The runway visibility at the time of the accident was 1/8 sm in fog, RVR 1200 feet.


Date: 2005/12/30
Further Action Required: No
O.P.I.: Commercial & Business Aviation
Narrative: UPDATE TSB: On 25 December 2005, an incident occurred at Halifax involving a Westjet Boeing 737. On landing, the left wing of the aircraft contacted the runway. The Transportation Safety Board (TSB) is conducting an investigation into the incident (TSB Occurrence Number A05A0161) with the type of occurrence initially classed as a "reportable aviation accident". After further investigation, the TSB has decided to change the occurrence type to a "reportable aviation incident" with a sub-type of "wingtip strike" (Ref: AIM, General Section, Part 3.2 (e) and TSB Regulations, Part 2). In addition, the aircraft damage has been downgraded from "substantial" to "minor".

Just curious how the wingtip touches the runway and no one notices. "The flight crew was unaware....". Were they on the plane?

At 2325Z WJA798, Boeing 737-700, enroute from Toronto (CYYZ) to Halifax (CYHZ) landed on Runway 14. At 0011Z the Airport Duty Manager told the tower that Runway 14 was closed for an inspection as WJA798 had struck a wing tip on landing. No debris was found and runway was reopened at 0031Z. The ADM went over to inspect the aircraft. At 0029Z the WJA dispatch advised the tower that the aircraft had suffered significant structural damage. At 0040Z the ADM advised the tower that Runway 14 was closed again and he was re-inspecting it. This time parts of the aircraft were found. At this time the runway is still closed. NOC, TSB and CACO have been advised. TSB Investigating.


Date: 2005/12/30
Further Action Required: No
O.P.I.: Commercial & Business Aviation
Narrative: UPDATE TSB A05A0161: WJA798, a Westjet Boeing 737-700, was landing on Runway 14 at Halifax when the left wingtip, position light, outboard slat and flap canoe contacted the runway. The flight crew was unaware of the incident until the aircraft was parked at the terminal gate at which time ground personnel informed the crew of the damage. There were no injuries and the aircraft has been removed from service until repairs can be affected. The runway visibility at the time of the accident was 1/8 sm in fog, RVR 1200 feet.


Date: 2005/12/30
Further Action Required: No
O.P.I.: Commercial & Business Aviation
Narrative: UPDATE TSB: On 25 December 2005, an incident occurred at Halifax involving a Westjet Boeing 737. On landing, the left wing of the aircraft contacted the runway. The Transportation Safety Board (TSB) is conducting an investigation into the incident (TSB Occurrence Number A05A0161) with the type of occurrence initially classed as a "reportable aviation accident". After further investigation, the TSB has decided to change the occurrence type to a "reportable aviation incident" with a sub-type of "wingtip strike" (Ref: AIM, General Section, Part 3.2 (e) and TSB Regulations, Part 2). In addition, the aircraft damage has been downgraded from "substantial" to "minor".

The report is a bit confusing. They refer to runway 14.When I last flew to Halifax they had runway 15-33 and 06-24. It is possible the magnetic variation has changed and 15 is renamed 14. If however that is the case the minimum visabilty or RVR to land is 2400. 1200 as reported would be below limits. If it was runway 24 they have CAT 2 limits of 1200 RVR.

Just curious how the wingtip touches the runway and no one notices. "The flight crew was unaware....". Were they on the plane?

Probably noticed something was amiss, but the palne made it safely to a stop and could still taxi to the gate.

If Westjet had stopped on the runway and declared an emergency, the runway would be closed for 1-2 days.

Damage in terms of dollars is comparable to an incident with the double bridges. It has happened a few times that the 200 settings were used on a 700 and crumpled the hull a bit.

The report is a bit confusing. They refer to runway 14.When I last flew to Halifax they had runway 15-33 and 06-24. It is possible the magnetic variation has changed and 15 is renamed 14. If however that is the case the minimum visabilty or RVR to land is 2400. 1200 as reported would be below limits. If it was runway 24 they have CAT 2 limits of 1200 RVR.

From hte HIAA website;

Runways:
05/23 (formerly 06/24) 8800' x 200' asphalt / concrete
14/32 (formerly 15/33) 7700' x 200' asphalt

Taxiways A to H:
Width 75'

Navigational Aids:
Category II Instrument Landing System (ILS)
Ratheon Canada Radar provides primary and secondary coverage on Runway 24

From hte HIAA website;

Runways:
05/23 (formerly 06/24) 8800' x 200' asphalt / concrete
14/32 (formerly 15/33) 7700' x 200' asphalt

Taxiways A to H:
Width 75'

Navigational Aids:
Category II Instrument Landing System (ILS)
Ratheon Canada Radar provides primary and secondary coverage on Runway 24

Thanks so much.14 looks like the runway. I hope then(for the crew's sake) the weather reported at 1200 RVR:::1/8mile was a mistake . As reported in the newpaper article there were indeed many diversions and cancellations. I can understand why.

Probably noticed something was amiss, but the palne made it safely to a stop and could still taxi to the gate.



If they felt that something was amiss I believe they would be obligated to inform the tower. A wing-stike can leave debris that could be a danger to other acft landing or taking off. Any damage caused by that debris to other acft could have repercussions for a crew that failed to report it. There is a lot going on in the cockpit during landing (especially in marginal weather) and I can see how it may have been missed.

I'm surprised how they looked at the runway the first time and didn't find anything... The second time they look they found stuff. Good search the first time :roll:

I'm surprised how they looked at the runway the first time and didn't find anything... The second time they look they found stuff. Good search the first time :roll:
The first pass was probably down the centre line at high speed.

In the fog and with the runway 200 feet wide stuff off to the side is easily missed. The second pass was probably slower and down each side.

Been there and done that. It helps to know what you are looking for too.

I could see that -- especially being very dark at night.

The first pass was probably down the centre line at high speed.

In the fog and with the runway 200 feet wide stuff off to the side is easily missed. The second pass was probably slower and down each side.

Been there and done that. It helps to know what you are looking for too.
Good to know... Thx for the expert clarification :)

Just curious how the wingtip touches the runway and no one notices. "The flight crew was unaware....". Were they on the plane?

I bet the passengers noticed - must have been one heck of a landing. :eek:

Answers on runway mishap may take awhile

Source: THE CHRONICLE-HERALD, Halifax
Section: NovaScotia
Page: B3
Byline: Davene Jeffrey Staff Reporter
Date: 01/05/2006

It will likely be six months to a year before the public finds out why the wing of a WestJet plane hit the runway at Halifax International Airport on Christmas Day.

The accident occurred shortly before 7:30 p.m., as the Boeing 737 was touching down on Runway 14 in Halifax, said Neil Pinsent, a senior investigator with the Transportation Safety Board.

None of the 130 passengers or six crew members on board Flight 178, which originated in Toronto, was injured in the accident.

Information from the plane's flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder has been downloaded at the board's lab in Ottawa, where it will be used to develop a simulation of the Christmas Day landing.

"It will give me a good insight into why the incident happened," Mr. Pinsent said Wednesday in a telephone interview.

Both recorders have since been returned to WestJet, he said.

Mr. Pinsent will be reviewing WestJet's operating manual and comparing that to what went on in the plane that night. He has also conducted interviews with crew members and will be talking to some passengers.

Visibility was poor that night - the minimum standard at which planes are allowed to land - and the crew was using a routine instrument landing system approach, Mr. Pinsent said.

The wing hit the ground just as the plane was levelling off at touchdown.

"It's a fairly rare occurrence," Mr. Pinsent said. And the pilot may not have known the incident had even occurred.

"It's quite common for the crew not to know, especially in a very slight touch like that," Mr. Pinsent said.

"The passengers in the back are a lot closer to it and they may see sparks. They may hear noise. There are several things that a passenger can probably be aware of that a flight crew wouldn't," the investigator said.

Parts of the wing's tip and flaps were damaged. Mr. Pinsent categorized the $35,000 in damage as minimal, explaining that the plane was relatively new and worth about $40 million.

"We take it very seriously because it could have been worse," Mr. Pinsent said.

http://www.herald.ns.ca/Search/475204.html