A Philippine Airlines Boeing 777-300 operating a service from Manila to Los Angeles rejected takeoff following an engine failure on 5 July 2024.
Philippine airlines flight PR102, a Boeing 777-300 bound for Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) was conducting a takeoff from RWY 24 Manila.
Philippine Airlines PR102 Manila-Los Angeles
As the aircraft was accelerating on the takeoff roll, it experienced a left-hand engine failure. As a result, flight crew conducted a rejected takeoff at high speed.
According to flight data in the aircraft had attained 160 knots ground speed when the rejected takeoff was initiated.
Directional control was maintained and the aircraft decelerated on the runway before vacating it. After clearing the active runway, the aircraft became disabled on a taxiway due to the deflation of multiple main landing gear tyres.
The pre-landing inspection of the aircraft revealed that all 12 tyres on the main landing gear had burst.
The scheduled flight to Los Angeles was being operated with 361 persons on board. With the aircraft disabled on the taxiway after landing, passengers were disembarked in situ and ferried to the terminal by bus.
A flight was mustered the following day to transport passengers to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Aircraft Details
The aircraft conducting the PR102 service from Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) was a Boeing 777-300ER, registered RP-C7777. This is a 14.7-year-old wide-body aircraft belonging to the Philippines national carrier Philippine Airlines.
It has been in operational service with the airline since its initial delivery from the factory in November 2009.
Rejected Takeoff (RTO)
A rejected takeoff (RTO) at high speed refers to an aborted takeoff initiated when the airplane is traveling well above taxiing speed but still below the critical decision speed known as V1.
- High Speed RTO: This is a specific type of RTO that occurs at higher speeds.It is typically carried out above 80 knots. Some aircraft types may have a higher threshold for high-speed RTOs, around 100 knots.
The key thing about high-speed RTOs is that they are only supposed to happen in response to serious issues. This is because:
- Stopping distance: At high speeds, the airplane needs a significant amount of runway to stop safely using the brakes. Pilots will only reject takeoff if they are confident they can stop within the remaining runway length.
- Continuation vs. Stopping: Below V1 (the decision speed), stopping is generally considered the safer option. Even for minor problems, a stop is prioritized. However, at high speeds near V1, continuing the takeoff might be preferable to a risky stop, depending on the severity of the problem.
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