Description

On 5 March 2008, an Airbus A310-300 being operated by Air Transat on a passenger flight from Quebec to Montreal in day Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) being used for line training was unintentionally mishandled by the pilot under supervision during and shortly after departure and effective control of the aircraft was temporarily lost. After recovery from a steep high speed descent, PAN status was declared and subsequently cancelled and the flight proceeded without further event to the intended destination. There was no damage to the aircraft and there were no injuries to the 98 occupants.

Investigation

An Incident was initially mis-reported by the Operator to the Canadian TSB as “a significant loss of altitude and overspeed due to wind shear”. No structural damage or system defects had been found to the aircraft during inspection after flight. However, despite the fact that a more detailed examination of the event then led to the elimination of wind shear as a factor, the TSB was not advised and the start of the eventual TSB Investigation was therefore delayed with “loss of information that could have helped determine the crew’s actions and the circumstances surrounding the incident”.