Go-around flap jam resulted in diverted 737’s landing below minimum fuel threshold

Danish investigators have determined that the additional fuel consumption arising from stuck flaps resulted in a diverted Boeing 737-800’s landing at Copenhagen with less than the required minimum fuel reserve. The aircraft – operated by Danish carrier Jettime – had been conducting an approach to Billund following a charter service from the Egyptian resort of Hurghada on 21 December last year. Investigation authority Havarikommissionen says a sensor glitch, subsequently resolved, delayed the 737’s departure from Hurghada by 28h. When the crew updated the flightplan they based it on a minimum fuel requirement of 16,814kg although the carrier’s operational control centre communicated a revised figure of 17,400kg owing to a new winds aloft forecast. The crew did not manage to update the flightplan with the winds forecast but – while continuing to use the basic figure of 16,814kg – chose to add 1,186kg of extra fuel to account for the winds forecast, the technical snag, and the possibility of storms on arrival in Denmark. Danish investigation authority Havarikommissionen says this extra fuel provided a “reasonable operating margin”. But as the flight progressed the crew noticed a reduction in estimated landing fuel – from 4,000kg to 3,200kg – owing to stronger-than-expected headwinds, and opted to change their alternate airport from Gothenburg to the closer Copenhagen. The aircraft had 3,278kg of fuel on board when it conducted its ILS approach to Billund’s runway 27, in strong gusting winds from the northwest. Story has full details.<br/>