Why a simple braking maneuver turned a routine landing into a fatal aviation disaster
In short: When Atlantic Airways Flight 670 failed to deploy its spoilers upon landing in Norway, the pilots faced a critical choice. By engaging emergency brakes to compensate, they inadvertently triggered a rare phenomenon called reverted rubber hydroplaning, causing the aircraft to slide uncontrollably off the runway and down a steep cliff.
On 10 October 2006, a British Aerospace 146-200A operating as Atlantic Airways Flight 670 arrived at Stord Airport, Sørstokken. During the landing, the aircraft’s spoilers—designed to dump lift and assist braking—failed to deploy. While the Accident Investigation Board Norway (AIBN) could not pinpoint the exact cause, they suspected a mechanical failure in the spoiler lever or a fault in the thrust lever micro switches. The pilots, noticing the lack of retardation, attempted to compensate by applying the emergency braking system.
This decision proved catastrophic. The emergency system bypassed the aircraft's anti-lock braking, causing the wheels to lock completely. On the damp, non-grooved runway, this friction generated intense heat, vaporizing surface water into steam. The tires effectively floated on this cushion of steam, a state known as reverted rubber hydroplaning. This phenomenon reduced braking effectiveness so severely that it increased the required stopping distance by approximately 60%. Investigators concluded that with optimum braking, the aircraft would have likely stopped on the runway.
The aircraft eventually overran the runway at a speed of 15 to 20 knots, sliding down a steep slope where it caught fire. Although the aircraft was airworthy and the crew followed proper procedures, the airport's geography and lack of safety areas exacerbated the outcome. The fire, fueled by a short circuit and an engine that remained running, destroyed most of the fuselage. While all passengers had a chance of survival, the terrain hindered fire crews, making rapid evacuation the only factor that saved lives. The accident remains a sobering study in how technical malfunctions, when met with specific pilot interventions, can lead to unforeseen and lethal physical consequences.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Atlantic Airways Flight 670
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