Accident: Emirates A345 at Melbourne on Mar 20th 2009, tail strike andoverrun on takeoffBy Simon Hradecky, created Friday, Mar 20th 2009 23:11Z, last updatedMonday, Mar 23rd 2009 13:39Z An Emirates Airlines Airbus A340-500, registration A6-ERG performing flightEK-407 from Melbourne,VI (Australia) to Dubai (United Arab Emirates) with225 people on board, experienced a tail strike on takeoff from Melbourne'srunway 16 (length 3657 meters/12000 feet) at around 22:30 local (11:30Z),hit the runway end lights and the localizer antenna past the end of runway16. The airplane climbed out safely, went to dump fuel overhead the ocean atPort Phillip Bay but returned for an immediate emergency landing when smokestarted to fill the cabin about 30 minutes after takeoff. The airplanelanded heavily on Melbourne's runway 34 and was able to taxi to the apronafter being checked out by emergency services. Severe abrazions occured to the tail skin and several access panels wereripped off during the tailstrike, the landing reportedly caused additionaldamage to the gear. The Melbourne Airport confirmed, that several runway end lights were damagedin the accident, too, and needed to be replaced. NOTAMs (NOTices for AirMen)state, that the ILS runway 16 will not be available until March 23rd:"F2248/09 - ILS RWY16 'IMS' FREQ 109.7 NOT AVBL. 20 MAR 16:10 2009 UNTIL 23MAR 07:00 2009 ESTIMATED. CREATED: 20 MAR 16:10 2009" In daylight Saturday morning it was established, that the airplane was stillon the ground when it passed the runway end during takeoff, according geartracks were found in the soft ground past the runway end. The Australian Transportation Safety Board (ATSB) confirmed the tailstrikecausing substantial damage to the airframe and subsequent smoke in thecabin, however deferred all other questions to investigation results to beexpected in about 30 days. Metars:YMML 201400Z 35006KT CAVOK 15/13 Q1014 NOSIGYMML 201330Z 35005KT CAVOK 15/13 Q1014 NOSIGYMML 201300Z 01006KT CAVOK 15/13 Q1014 NOSIGYMML 201230Z 31004KT CAVOK 16/14 Q1014 NOSIGYMML 201200Z 30004KT CAVOK 16/14 Q1014 NOSIGYMML 201130Z 26003KT CAVOK 17/14 Q1015 NOSIGYMML 201100Z 24004KT CAVOK 16/14 Q1014 NOSIGYMML 201030Z 23003KT CAVOK 17/14 Q1015 NOSIG
