Created Friday, Jan 7th 2022 15:30Z, last updated Friday, Jan 7th 2022 15:30Z
A Kalitta Boeing 747-400, registration N703CK performing flight
K4-368 from Los Angeles,CA to Honolulu,HI (USA) with 7 crew, was accelerating for takeoff from Los Angeles' runway 25R at about 03:06L (11:06Z) when the crew rejected takeoff at high speed (about 110 knots over ground) after colliding with an object on the runway. The aircraft slowed and stopped on the runway, the crew reported severe damage to the aircraft after hitting something big on the runway, they were considering to evacuate the aircraft and requested assistance to check the aircraft for damage and fire. Tower reported there was excessive smoke coming from the nose gear while slowing to a stop. Emergency services responded and found a trash bin, that had been blown onto the runway and had hit the nose gear of the 747. Both tyres of the nose gear had blown as result.
The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Los Angeles about 11 hours after the rejected takeoff.
A replacement Boeing 747-400 registration N741CK is estimated to reach Honolulu with a delay of 9 hours.
On Mar 20th 2020 the NTSB reported they have opened an investigation into the occurrence rated an accident, however, the investigators will not travel in support of the investigation.
On Jan 7th 2022 the NTSB released their final report concluding the probable cause of the accident was:
An unavoidable collision with a garbage dumpster that had blown into the path of the airplane during the takeoff roll.
The NTSB analysed:
The captain stated that he was the pilot flying and, during the takeoff roll on runway 25R, between 80 and 110 knots (V1 was 131 knots), he noticed a large object "moving right to left at a good speed". A fraction of a second later it passed under the nose and impacted the airplane. He said that the impact was loud, and the airplane "settled", followed by severe vibration in the airplane. He immediately rejected the takeoff and stopped on the runway.
At the time of the takeoff, winds were reported to be 15 knots, gusting to 28 knots, from 340 degrees.
Authorities at the Los Angeles World Airports determined that the object blown onto the runway was a garbage dumpster.
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