AA 300 (N114NN) hits sign on / about takeoff from JFK and returns (10 Apr 2019)
Apr 11, 2019, 8:46 am
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AA 300 (N114NN) hits sign on / about takeoff from JFK and returns (10 Apr 2019)
https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/11/us/am...ign/index.html
I always thought AA JFK-LAX service were assigned low flight numbers (e.g., AA 1, etc.).
I always thought AA JFK-LAX service were assigned low flight numbers (e.g., AA 1, etc.).
Flight 300 ... hit a sign adjacent to the runway, Port Authority spokesman Steve Coleman told CNN.
The sign "directs pilots as they're going down the runway," Coleman said. The plane hit the sign because it was slightly off center during takeoff, Coleman said.
The sign "directs pilots as they're going down the runway," Coleman said. The plane hit the sign because it was slightly off center during takeoff, Coleman said.
Last edited by IADCAflyer; Apr 12, 2019 at 5:36 am Reason: Add information as required by rules
Apr 11, 2019, 9:12 am
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All MAX aircraft around the world are grounded. You’re looking at Airbus A321-200 “A321T” Sharklets wingtip devices. The MAX has APB Boeing Split Scimitar Winglets, giving them a unique appearance vs the Airbus Sharklet or the Boeing-APB blended winglets on AA Boeing 737-800.
Apr 11, 2019, 9:20 am
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Apr 11, 2019, 10:14 am
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Apr 11, 2019, 10:19 am
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So much for the MAX argument that AA has such expert skilled pilots. I presume that hitting the sign and damaging an aircraft would not be good for one's airline career.
It sounds like the incident occurred too far down the runway for the takeoff to be aborted.
It sounds like the incident occurred too far down the runway for the takeoff to be aborted.
Apr 11, 2019, 10:38 am
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I think we will find that this incident happened either during, or just after, rotation.There are very few signs on the left side of the runway (direction of travel taking off R/W 31L), so it was likely a distance-to-go sign. Those signs are close to 200' from the centerline, further out than the runway edge lights by some distance. If the plane wasn't airborne or just about airborne at this point, it was going to have bigger problems.
Too tight a left turn on departure? Gust of wind helping things get a bit less stable?
Too tight a left turn on departure? Gust of wind helping things get a bit less stable?
Apr 11, 2019, 10:42 am
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I had interpreted the story as implying that the pilot was doing a takeoff with the aircraft not centered (left to right) in the middle of the runway. If the aircraft was moving in a direction at an angle to the runway, the plane might have gone off the tarmac into the grass before leaving the ground, which of course could have caused more damage.
Apr 11, 2019, 11:00 am
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The aircraft's wingtip is approximately 59 feet away from the center of the aircraft, if the aircraft were to takeoff on the edge line of the runway (far left side w/r/t direction of travel, if they would have inadvertently used the edge line as the center line), the wing tip would still be 15 or so feet away from the sign. Any further off center (say if the pilot inadvertently mistook the edge lights as the center line lights) and they would not have made it past the first few as they are all elevated lights.
Apr 11, 2019, 11:06 am
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Also, (sorry, will stop soon) the aircraft's wing tip, which was the striking point from the images, is between 12 and 13 feet high. The tallest signs of that type FAA allows is 5', which means that wingtip would have to be rolling 7-8' , which means it would have been off the ground or performing some sort of lopsided rotation.
Apr 11, 2019, 11:32 am
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We will have to wait for a report on this one, as what we have is too ambiguous. The wing height, distance from center line, sign height and requirement for frangible mounting if most impediments close to runways... just too much to speculate about and very little factual information.
Apr 11, 2019, 12:14 pm
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