AAIB investigation to Boeing 737-8K5, G-FDZJ

Incorrect stabiliser trim on takeoff, Malta International Airport, 28 September 2017.

• From: Air Accidents Investigation Branch
• Published: 8 February 2018

• Category: Commercial - fixed wing
• Report type: Bulletin - Correspondence investigation
• Date of occurrence: 28 September 2017
• Aircraft type: Boeing 737-8K5
• Location: Malta International Airport
• Registration: G-FDZJ

Summary:

G-FDZJ was operating a charter flight from Malta to Manchester on behalf of a cruise ship company. On takeoff the pilot flying found the aircraft required significantly more aft control column movement than normal to rotate. The available evidence indicates that the aircraft was out of trim due to an incorrect MACTOW on the load sheet. This occurred because passenger’s actual seating positions were not passed to the handling agent. When producing the load sheet the handling agent assumed an even distribution of passengers within the cabin, when the actual distribution created a forward bias.

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Boeing 737-8K5, G-FDZJ 02-18

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Published 8 February 2018