Office of Aviation Safety

Continental AirlinesFlight 1404Human PerformanceWilliam Bramble, Ph.D.

2

The Captain

• Experienced pilot

• Substantial time in type

• Substantial recent experience

• No history of performance deficiencies

3

The Captain (continued)

• No medical issues

• No toxicological impairment

• No stressful life events

• No evidence of fatigue

4

The Captain’s InputsRelative wind

Crosswind

Weathervane effect

Right rudder

X

5

The Captain’s Inputs (continued)

Rudder pedalHeading

ExclamationRight wheel and tiller

Tim

e (L

ocal

)

6

The Captain’s Inputs (continued)

50.0

75.0

100.0

125.0

150.0

175.0

200.0

225.0

250.0

-1

-0.5

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

18:18:13

18:18:14

18:18:15

18:18:16

18:18:17

18:18:18

18:18:19

18:18:20

18:18:21

18:18:22

Cal

cula

ted

Airs

peed

(Kno

ts)

Load

Fac

tor (

g's)

Verticalacceleration

Airspeed

Hot-1:“Reject”

Thrust levers reducedTiller use began5.75 seconds

Time of theexcursion

2.7 seconds

1.5 to 4 seconds

7

The Captain’s Inputs (continued)

• Takeoff crosswind components of 30 knots or greater rarely encountered in line flying

• Flight 1404 encountered crosswind component of 30 to 45 knots

• Accident crosswind likely exceeded captain’s line flying experience

8

Crosswind Training

• Continental Airlines 737 flight training included crosswind takeoffs

• High-crosswind training provided during 2004 / 2005 recurrent training– Steady 35-knot crosswind (no gusts)

• Accident crosswind exceeded captain’s training experience

9

Crosswind Guidelines

• Demonstrated crosswind (737-300/-500)– 31-36 knots

• Boeing’s Airplane Flight Manual (737-300/-500)– 35 knots

• Supplemental guidance published by Boeing– 40 knots

• Continental Airlines crosswind guideline– 33 knots

10

Crosswind Guidelines (continued)

• Manufacturers not required to demonstrate crosswind takeoff performance in very gusty winds

• Gust factor present during certification flight testing not generally published

• No FAA standards for supplemental crosswind guidelines development

11

Applications for Operational Flight Data

• FAA participates in safety programs involving operational flight data analysis

• FAA could pinpoint where and when high-crosswind takeoffs are occurring

• FAA could use information to reduce high-crosswind takeoffs and excursion risk

12