One of the contributing factors that led to a mishap of an Air India Express in Kochi back in September 2017 is the disagreement between the 59-year-old PIC (Pilot in Command) with the 28-year-old co-pilot, reveals a new report by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
The Air India Express B 737-800 aircraft VT-AYB was involved in a mishap at the Cochin Airport on September 4, 2017, while operating Flight IX452 from Abu Dhabi to Kochi. After landing while taxiing, the aircraft took a 90 m early turn before Taxiway ‘F’ and entered into open rain water drain. Three passengers of the total 108 (including the crew) on board had minor injuries and the aircraft had major structural damage including damage to Nose Landing Gear (NLG), Engine inlet Cowls, Fan Cowls, Engine Strut, lower skin etc.
The DGCA investigation report says that the probable cause of accident was, “Incorrect judgement taken by PIC for initiating left turn short of the taxi track link (before Taxiway F), during night, in rain during reduced visibility conditions thus resulting the aircraft entering in open rain water drain.”
Other contributing factors include low visibility during night in rains and the PIC’s WOCL – Window of Circadian Low, a time when the body is programmed to sleep and during which performance and alertness is degraded.
The report suggests that the CVR (Cockpit Voice Recorder) shows that while taxing, the co-pilot had informed the PIC about passing taxiway ‘E’ and that the next is ‘F’. The co-pilot had also requested the PIC who was at controls, to go slow as runway markings were not visible and advised to call follow-me-jeep (used to control ground traffic of airplanes at an air base). However, there was no response from the PIC. When the aircraft took a premature turn and entered the drain, the co-pilot had requested the PIC not to apply the throttle. But the latter applied it thrice for the aircraft to come out of the drain and yet it remained stuck.
The DGCA records the PIC’s statement as reaching his hotel late in the previous night while operating flight Cochin-Dubai-Cochin and not being able to sleep before the flight and therefore fatigued at the time of landing in Kochi. He also mentioned that poor weather and confusing taxi track appearance contributed to incorrect judgment of initiating the turn short of the link “F”.
At the time of landing, there were heavy rains which later turned into drizzling when the accident occurred. However, no significant weather trend was reported by the ATC. No Special Weather Report (SPECI) was issued by MET office. The CVR tape transcript revealed that the weather information was also passed by the Cochin ATC to the aircraft while giving the landing clearance.
As per the co-pilot’s statement, when the PIC turned aircraft left prematurely, she was adjusting her wipers and spectacles to see clearly.
Both PIC and co-pilot were operating the first time together for Cochin- Abu Dhabi- Cochin flight. The first flight, Cochin- Abu Dhabi Flight No. IX 419, on September 4 , 2017, was uneventful. The accident flight Abu Dhabi- Cochin Flight No. IX 452 on 04-09-2017 was their second flight.
A Hindustan Times story says aviation authorities have advised Air India Express to ensure pilots are not paired in a way that they have a wide age gap (31 years in this case). Among the safety recommendations by the DGCA report, the Air India Express is to ensure proper crew pairing taking into consideration the age factor and experience among other factors. It may also issue circular regarding proper crew coordination.