A lesson in weight and balance

A new report from the UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) was issued today about a serious incident that happened aboard an Emerald Airways turboprop aircraft in 2005.

Shortly after takeoff, a broken seal allowed a fine mist of hydraulic fluid into the cabin of the British Aerospace ATP. The cabin crew mistook the mist for smoke, and rushed the 33 passengers to the rear of the cabin, an act that seriously altered the aircraft's center of gravity.

The plane made a safe emergency landing, and crew and passengers suffered only minor injuries, but we can only imagine what it was like for the guys on the flight deck of that aircraft during the emergency.

The incident prompted the AAIB to issue a safety recommendation regarding the training of cabin crew about weight and balance issues.

I have made a lengthier post about this incident on my Cabin Crew News blog. If you are interested, here is the link to that post: AAIB: Cabin crew caused incident on turboprop

Here is the link to the AAIB Air Accident Report for this incident: Aircraft Accident Report No 1/2007 (4-page 'PDF' file). It's worth reading.