A319, vicinity Tunis Tunisia, 2012

A319, vicinity Tunis Tunisia, 2012

Summary

On 24 March 2012, an Air France Airbus A319 Captain continued descent towards destination Tunis at high speed with the landing runway in sight well beyond the point where a stabilised approach was possible. With 5nm to go, airspeed was over 100 KIAS above the applicable VApp and the aircraft was descending at over 4000fpm with flaps zero. EGPWS activations for Sink Rate, PULL UP and Too Low Terrain apparently went unnoticed but at 400 feet agl, ATC granted a crew request for a 360° turn. The subsequent approach/landing was without further event. Investigation attributed the event to “sloppy CRM”.

Description

On 24 March 2012, an Airbus A319 (F-GRHU) being operated by Air France on a scheduled passenger flight from Paris CDG to Tunis as AF2184 attempted a visual contact Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach in day Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) with insufficient track miles. Lack of stabilisation culminated in an Terrain Avoidance and Warning System (TAWS) PULL UP activation and a low altitude orbit on final approach before a visual circuit was carried out to a normal second approach and a successful landing. There were no occupant injuries and no resultant aircraft damage.

Investigation

An Investigation was carried out by the French Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses (BEA) using data from the QAR, ATC R/T recordings and testimonies. The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) was record of the event was overwritten.

It was noted that the aircraft commander had been promoted to Captain on the A320 four years previously after 11 years as a Co-pilot and had accumulated 1700 hours in type in command. The First Officer had 1700 hours experience on the A320 with Air France.

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