Unexpected seat collapse leads to 737 tail strike

摘要

An Air India Express Boeing 737-800 took out the airport's localiser and a portion of its boundary wall on take-off after the captain's seat unexpectedly reclined, a report by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has revealed. The jet, VT-AYD (c/n 36340), was departing Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) Airport in the south of the country when the incident occurred. The narrowbody backtracked and lined up on runway 27 just after 1am local time on October 12, 2018. The V speeds were recorded as being 143kts for V1,144kts and 151kts for VR and V2, respectively. Thrust levers were advanced and TOGA (take-off/go-around) was engaged when engine N1 reached 40%. The PIC called for take-off power and the first officer checked and verified that the required thrust was set. The speed cross-check at 80kts was completed by both crew members. According to the report, the captain said that during the high-speed segment of the take-off roll, at around 117kts, his seat recliner collapsed and he lost his balance. With his left hand on the control column and right on the thrust levers, he inadvertently pulled both back as he fell back. This resulted in a power reduction from 98% to 77%.