31 March 1992 - Transair 671

Trans-Air Service Flight 671, a Boeing 707, registration 5N-MAS, took off from Luxembourg at 07.14h for an IFR flight to Kano, carrying 38 tonnes of freight. The aircraft, on a heading of 199deg, when passing VILAR and the VOR of Martigues, was authorized to leave FL290 for FL330. This flight section was performed in IMC in turbulent air.

With the throttles at climb power and autopilot engaged the aircraft was flying at 280kts IAS passing FL320. At this moment, the crew was experiencing severe turbulence and heard a double 'bang'. The aircraft suddenly rolled to the right. The captain disengaged autopilot and struggled to keep control by countering with control stick and rudder pedals. The continuous fire warning system sounded, but could not be switched off by the flight engineer. The first officer noted that the no.4 engine had separated and sent out a Mayday call (at 08.11h). The crew started the descend towards Marseilles and initiated the fuel dumping procedure.

During the descent the first officer noted an airfield ahead (which was Istres) and Marseille transferred the aircraft to Istres Control. A left hand circuit was flown for a runway 15 landing at Istres. The aircraft touched down slightly to the left of the centreline at a speed of 190kts. Emergency brakes had to be used to decelerate. The left main gear tyres burst during the landing roll and the flight engineer selected maximum reverse thrust on the no.2 engine. After a 2300m ground roll, the 707 went off the left side of the runway and stopped 250m further on. The fire on the right wing (which had erupted in the final approach phase) was put out.

The landing took place at 08.35, about 24min after engine separation.

Transcript of the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR)