4 October 1992 - EL AL 1862

El Al cargo flight 1862 departed New York-JFK Airport for a flight to Tel Aviv via Amsterdam. The aircraft arrived at Amsterdam at 13.40h for a crew change, cargo processing and refuelling. The total amount of cargo was 114.7 tons, gross weight of the aircraft 338.3 tons (21 tons below the maximum allowable). The aircraft taxied out to runway 01L at 17.14h and started the takeoff roll at 17.21h. At 17.27:30, as the aircraft was climbing through 6500ft, the no.3 engine and pylon separated from the wing in an outward and rearward movement, colliding with the no.4 engine causing this engine and pylon to separate as well. An emergency was declared and the crew acknowledged their intention to return to Schiphol Airport and reported that they had a no.3 engine failure and a loss of engine thrust of both no.3 and 4 engine. At 17.28.57 the Amsterdam Radar controller informed the crew that runway 06 was in use with a 040 deg / 21kts wind. The crew however requested runway 27 for landing. A straight in approach to runway 27 was not possible because of airplane altitude (5000ft) and distance to the runway (7mls). The Amsterdam Arrival controller then instructed the crew to turn right heading 360deg and descend to 2000ft. During this descending turn the El Al crew reported that the no.3 and 4 engine were out and that they were having flap problems. Final clearance was given to turn right heading 270 to intercept the final approach course. When it became apparent that the aircraft was going to overshoot the localizer, the controller informed the crew accordingly and directed them to turn to heading 290 to try and intercept the final approach path again. A further instruction was given a 310 heading and descent clearance for 1500ft. These instructions were acknowledged and the crew added that they were experiencing control problems now as well. While reducing speed in preparation for the final approach, control was lost and the aircraft crashed into an eleven-floor apartment building the Bijlmermeer suburb of Amsterdam.

Time: Source: Content:
19:27:56 CREW: El Al 1862, Mayday, Mayday, we have an emergency.
19:28:00 ATC: El Al 1862, roger. Break, KLM 237, turn left heading 090.
19:28:06 ATC: El Al 1862, do you wish to return to Schiphol?
19:28:09 CREW: Affirmative, Mayday, Mayday, Mayday.
19:28:11 ATC: Turn right heading 260, field eh ... behind you eh ... in your to the west eh ... distance 18 miles.
19:28:17 CREW: Roger, we have fire on engine number number 3, we have fire on engine number 3.
19:28:22 ATC: Roger, heading 270 for downwind.
19:28:24 CREW: 270 downwind.
19:28:31 ATC: El Al 1862, surface wind 040 at 21 knots.
19:28:35 CREW: Roger.
19:28:45 CREW: El Al 1862, lost number 3 and number 4 engine, number 3 and number 4 engine.
19:28:50 ATC: Roger, 1862.
19:28:54 CREW: What will be the runway in use for me at Amsterdam?
19:28:57 ATC: Runway 6 in use, sir. Surface wind 040 at 21 knots, QNH 1012.
19:29:02 CREW: 1012, we request 27 for landing.
19:29:05 ATC: Roger, can you call Approach now, 121.2 for your line-up?
19:29:08 CREW: 121.2, bye bye.
19:29:08 ATC: Bye.
19:29:25 CREW: Schipol, El Al 1862, we have an emergency, eh ... we're number t ... eh ... 3 and 4 engine inoperative [badly readable, probably: "intending" or "returning"] landing.
19:29:32 ATC: El Al 1862, roger, copied about your emergency, contact 118.4 for your line-up.
19:29:39 CREW: 118.4, bye.
19:29:49 CREW: Schiphol, El Al 1862, we have an emergency, number 3 and number 4 engine inoperative, request 27 for landing.
19:29:58 ATC: You request 27, in that case heading 360, 360 the heading, descend to 2,000 feet on 1012, mind, the wind is 050 at 22.
19:30:10 CREW: Roger, can you say again the wind please?
19:30:12 ATC: 050 at 22.
19:30:14 CREW: Roger, what heading for Runway 27?
19:30:16 ATC: Heading 360, heading 360 and [then] give you a right turn on, to cross the localizer first, and you've got only seven miles to go from present position.
19:30:25 CREW: Roger, 36 copied.
19:31:17 ATC: El Al 1862, what is the distance you need to touchdown?
19:31:27 CREW: 12 miles final we need for landing.
19:31:30 ATC: Yeah, how many miles final ... eh correction ... how many miles track miles you need?
19:31:40 CREW: ... Flap one ... we need ... eh ... a 12 miles final for landing.
19:31:43 ATC: Okay, right right heading 100, right right heading 100.
19:31:46 CREW: Heading 100.
19:32:15 ATC: El Al 1862, just to be sure, your engines number 3 and 4 are out?
19:32:20 CREW: Number 3 and 4 are out and we have ... eh ... problems with our flaps.
19:32:25 ATC: Problem with the flaps, roger.
19:32:37 CREW: Heading 100, El Al 1862.
19:32:39 ATC: Thank you, 1862.
19:33:00 CREW: Okay, heading ... eh ... and turning, eh ... maintaining.
19:33:05 ATC: Roger, 1862, your speed is?
19:33:10 CREW: Say again?
19:33:12 ATC: Your speed?
19:33:13 CREW: Our speed is ... eh ... 260.
19:33:15 ATC: Okay, you have around 13 miles to go to touchdown, speed is all yours, you are cleared to land Runway 27.
19:33:21 CREW: Cleared to land 27.
19:33:37 ATC: El Al 1862, a right right turn heading 270 adjust on the localizer, cleared for approach.
19:33:44 CREW: Right, right 270.
19:34:18 ATC: El Al 1862, you're about to cross the localizer due to your speed, continue the right turn heading 290, heading 290, 12 track miles to go, 12 track miles to go.
19:34:28 CREW: Roger, 290.
19:34:48 ATC: El Al 1862, further right, heading 310, heading 310.
19:34:52 CREW: 310.
19:34:58 ATC: El Al 1862, continue descent 1,500 feet, 1,500.
19:35:03 CREW: 1,500, and we have a controlling problem.
19:35:06 ATC: You have a controlling problem as well, roger.
19:35:25 CREW: Going down 1862, going down, going down, copied going down. [Background: "Raise all the flaps, all the flaps raise, lower the gear."]
19:35:47 ATC: Yes, El Al 1862, your heading

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cockpit Voice Recorder Database, visit us at www.tailstrike.com