A Virgin Australia pilot accidentally sent a plane into a 42 degree roll, injuring a flight attendant, during a service from Brisbane to Melbourne.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said the captain accidentally hit the wrong switch when he tried to open the cockpit door on September 6, 2023.
The Boeing 737 aircraft had been approaching cruise altitude while flying over Ballina on NSW’s North Coast when the pilot received a call from a flight attendant requesting entry to the flight deck.
After completing security procedures, the pilot visually identified the flight deck door switch and reached across to activate it.
‘As they reached for the switch, the captain looked up from the switch to the flight deck door, and then inadvertently grasped and activated the rudder trim control instead,’ ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said.
The pilot held the switch for eight seconds, resulting in a 42 degree bank roll to the left while several food carts were moving through the cabin.
A cabin crew member operating a trolley at the back of the plane sustained a minor injury while attempting to stabilise the cart.
The ATSB found the two switches are similar in their operation and are located close to each other on the flight deck aisle stand panel between two seats.
A cabin crew member operating a trolley at the back of the plane sustained a minor injury while attempting to stabilise the cart (pictured, Virgin Australia flight attendants)
The flight deck door switch and the rudder trim control are similar in their operation and are located close to each other on the flight deck aisle stand panel between two seats (pictured)
‘Initially the autopilot countered the increasing left rudder trim’s resultant left yaw and induced the left roll, with an opposing and increasing right wing down aileron input,’ the ATSB report stated.
‘However after about 5 seconds of full left rudder trim input, the autopilot reached the limit of its capacity to counteract it and the aircraft began to increasingly roll to the left.’
The first officer attempted to counter the turn, then disconnected the autopilot and manually applied almost full right aileron input to counter and correct the left roll.
The aircraft continued to Melbourne without further incident.
Following the incident, Virgin Australia changed its flight deck door entry procedures and reduced the time required for the door unlock switch to be held.
‘The new procedure is designed to indicate that the crew member requesting entry is at the door and ready to enter, thereby limiting the time required for the door unlock switch to be held in the unlock position,’ the ATSB report stated.
A Virgin Australia spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia: ‘The safety of our guests and crew is our top priority.’
‘Our team worked closely with the ATSB to support the investigation and we have made procedural and training changes to prevent reoccurrence.’
