EASA SIB 2013-19
Non-stabilized Approach followed by Runway Overrun at Lyon —Saint Exupéry— Airport
Summary
EASA Safety Information Bulletin SIB No. 2013-19 addresses a runway overrun incident involving an Airbus A321 equipped with CFM56 engines at Lyon Saint Exupéry Airport. The incident was caused by a non-stabilized instrument landing system (ILS) approach during night and rainy conditions, combined with an auto thrust system misbehavior leading to an unexpected thrust increase. The bulletin applies to Airbus A319, A320, and A321 aircraft with CFM56 or IAE V2500 engines.
What Changed
This bulletin highlights the risk of runway overruns due to non-stabilized approaches and auto thrust system anomalies in certain Airbus A320 family aircraft equipped with legacy Flight Management Guidance Computers (FMGC) P/N B398xxxxxx or B546xxxxxx. It informs operators about the availability of optional upgrades to the Flight Guidance Second Generation standard C8/I8 and newer FMGC standards that mitigate the auto thrust misbehavior and provide runway overrun protection features.
Why It Matters
The information is critical for operators and maintenance organizations as it identifies a known auto thrust issue that can contribute to runway overruns during landing, especially under challenging conditions such as overspeed and contaminated runways. Upgrading the FMGC can enhance flight safety by preventing spurious thrust increases and providing runway overrun warnings, thereby reducing the risk of accidents and improving operational safety margins.
What To Do
Flight crews should adhere strictly to stabilized approach criteria and consider go-around procedures if the approach is not stabilized. Operators are recommended to upgrade legacy FMGC systems to the improved FG 2G C8/I8 standard or later FMGC versions that include runway overrun protection systems. No mandatory compliance deadline is specified, but timely implementation is advised to enhance safety.