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April 12, 2011 · Airbus A380 701 · F-HPJD

Jamaica, NY

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 12, 2011
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (576 uninjured)
Location
Jamaica, NY
Aircraft
Airbus A380 701
Tail Number
F-HPJD
Operator
Air France
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
DCA11LA045

Information provided by Airbus indicates that the view from the A380 cockpit looking sideways to the left was limited to about 121 degrees that did not allow the pilot to see the wingtip. Interviews with the Air France accident pilots indicated that they did not receive any guidance or training on wingtip clearance in the airplane. The pilots indicated that, during simulator training, forward visual lines were projected, cuing where the wingtips would pass but there was nothing in the airplane to provide an indication of wingtip clearance. The pilots did receive information about the A380 wingspan, restrictions on certain taxiways, and were advised to use caution during taxi. When the Comair crew contacted the ground controller, they were given a clearance to their ramp. Upon contacting their ramp controller, they were advised to hold at the Diamond 2 spot. This was due to ramp traffic that blocked access to their gate. When stopped at the Diamond 2 spot, the CRJ701's tail extended out of the ramp onto taxiway M. Neither the accident flight crew nor the Comair ramp controller advised ATC that a portion of the airplane was extended onto an active taxiway. The area where the CRJ701 was stopped was not visible from the JFK control tower. The AIM advises that a pilot "promptly complies with an air traffic clearance upon receipt except as necessary to cope with an emergency" and "advises ATC as soon as possible and obtains an amended clearance, if deviation is necessary". Therefore, the CRJ701 did not complete its clearance to the Comair ramp and should have advised ATC of this fact, which allowed a portion of the airplane to remain on an active taxiway. Although having a portion of the stopped airplane remain on an active taxiway was a factor in this accident, the primary responsibility to see and avoid contact between the two airplanes was with the A380. The CRJ captain stated that he saw the A380 approaching and moved his airplane forward to try to give the A380 more clearance. Examination of the A380 Flight Crew binocular vision chart and the relative positions of the airplanes show that as the Air France A380 airplane was making the turn onto taxiway A, a 10 degree cone of vision obstruction may have momentarily blocked the left seat pilot's vision of the CRJ. However, once the A380 was established on taxiway A, the view of the CRJ should have been within the binocular vision of both the Air France left seat and right seat pilots, however, the two A380 pilots stated that they did not notice the CRJ on M taxiway. The A380 captain in the right seat may have been momentarily distracted when he checked his taxi map for an intersection shortly before the collision occurred. The A380 pilot in the jumpseat said that he saw the CRJ but did not think there was a danger of collision with it.

NTSB Probable Cause

the A380 flight crew's inability to identify that the wingtip path of their airplane would not maintain safe clearance from the CRJ701. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the CRJ701 flight crew to advise ATC that they were stopped with a portion of their airplane still extending onto the taxiway.

Full Narrative

Information provided by Airbus indicates that the view from the A380 cockpit looking sideways to the left was limited to about 121 degrees that did not allow the pilot to see the wingtip. Interviews with the Air France accident pilots indicated that they did not receive any guidance or training on wingtip clearance in the airplane. The pilots indicated that, during simulator training, forward visual lines were projected, cuing where the wingtips would pass but there was nothing in the airplane to provide an indication of wingtip clearance. The pilots did receive information about the A380 wingspan, restrictions on certain taxiways, and were advised to use caution during taxi. When the Comair crew contacted the ground controller, they were given a clearance to their ramp. Upon contacting their ramp controller, they were advised to hold at the Diamond 2 spot. This was due to ramp traffic that blocked access to their gate. When stopped at the Diamond 2 spot, the CRJ701's tail extended out of the ramp onto taxiway M. Neither the accident flight crew nor the Comair ramp controller advised ATC that a portion of the airplane was extended onto an active taxiway. The area where the CRJ701 was stopped was not visible from the JFK control tower. The AIM advises that a pilot "promptly complies with an air traffic clearance upon receipt except as necessary to cope with an emergency" and "advises ATC as soon as possible and obtains an amended clearance, if deviation is necessary". Therefore, the CRJ701 did not complete its clearance to the Comair ramp and should have advised ATC of this fact, which allowed a portion of the airplane to remain on an active taxiway. Although having a portion of the stopped airplane remain on an active taxiway was a factor in this accident, the primary responsibility to see and avoid contact between the two airplanes was with the A380. The CRJ captain stated that he saw the A380 approaching and moved his airplane forward to try to give the A380 more clearance. Examination of the A380 Flight Crew binocular vision chart and the relative positions of the airplanes show that as the Air France A380 airplane was making the turn onto taxiway A, a 10 degree cone of vision obstruction may have momentarily blocked the left seat pilot's vision of the CRJ. However, once the A380 was established on taxiway A, the view of the CRJ should have been within the binocular vision of both the Air France left seat and right seat pilots, however, the two A380 pilots stated that they did not notice the CRJ on M taxiway. The A380 captain in the right seat may have been momentarily distracted when he checked his taxi map for an intersection shortly before the collision occurred. The A380 pilot in the jumpseat said that he saw the CRJ but did not think there was a danger of collision with it.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time20:06 EDT
Nearest AirportJohn F Kennedy Iap (1nm)
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAirbus A380 701
Tail NumberF-HPJD
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorAir France
Operating RulePart 129
Engines4
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsEngine Alliance · GP7270 · Turbofan · 73470 | Engine Alliance · GP7270 · Turbofan · 73470 | Engine Alliance · GP7270 · Turbofan · 73470

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (576 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured576
Total576
Crew 1Age 56 · First Class
Crew 2Age 57 · First Class
Crew 3Age 59 · First Class · None
Crew 4Age 35 · First Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightNight
Wind3 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 25000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point54 / 50
Altimeter29.56 inHg
Observation Time23:51

Appendix: Source Data