Investigation Summary
Flight 712 took off at 16:27 BST (15:27 GMT). Approximately 20 seconds later, a bang was heard as the number five low-pressure compressor wheel in the number two engine failed due to metal fatigue. The engine caught fire immediately. In the cockpit, a series of human factor errors occurred: while the Flight Engineer prepared to handle the failure, the Check Captain and Flight Engineer both reached for the landing gear warning horn cancel switch. In the confusion, First Officer Francis Kirkland instinctively, but in error, pressed the fire bell cancel button in front of him. Simultaneously, the Flight Engineer failed to pull the engine fire shut-off handle. This handle was critical as it would have closed the fuel shut-off valve. Because the valve remained open, fuel continued to pump into the fire, intensifying the blaze to the point that the engine and its pylon detached from the wing while the aircraft was still in flight. Captain Cliff Taylor executed a rapid turn and landed the aircraft on the short runway 05R. Upon stopping, the fire fanned by reverse thrust and subsequent wing explosions hindered the evacuation. Flight attendant Barbara Jane Harrison stayed at her post at the rear of the aircraft to help passengers escape until she was overcome by smoke and flames.
Final Conclusions
The investigation concluded that the primary cause of the engine failure was metal fatigue in the compressor wheel. However, the loss of the aircraft and the intensity of the fire were attributed to the crew's failure to close the fuel shut-off valve. The report noted that the presence of a Check Captain in the jump seat led to a breakdown in standard cockpit discipline, resulting in the accidental cancellation of the fire warning bell (attributed variously to the First Officer or Flight Engineer) and the omission of the fire shut-off handle pull. The fire was further exacerbated by the use of reverse thrust on landing, which directed flames toward the fuselage.
Video Analysis
You Will Never Be as Brave as She Was - The Tragedy of BOAC Flight 712 — A detailed look at the engine failure, the emergency landing at Heathrow, and the heroic actions of Barbara Jane Harrison during the evacuation of G-ARWE.
If playback is blocked, the owner has disabled embedding — use the link above.
Airframe & Maintenance
Crew Experience
Captain
Cliff Taylor
First Officer
Francis Kirkland
Systems & Failure Modes
Rolls-Royce Conway 508
The turbofan engine suffered a fatigue failure of the No. 5 low-pressure compressor wheel.
Engine Fire Shut-off Handle
A cockpit control that, when pulled, closes the fuel and hydraulic fluid valves to the engine and arms the fire extinguishers. It was not pulled during this emergency.
Flap System
Due to falling hydraulic pressure, the flaps stopped at 47 degrees, 3 degrees short of full extension.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was carrying a radioactive isotope destined for a hospital in Jerusalem.
- 02Barbara Jane Harrison is the only woman to have been awarded the George Cross in peacetime.
- 03The number two engine fell into a water-filled gravel pit near Egham.
- 04The landing was achieved just 3.5 minutes after the initial engine failure.
- 05The aircraft had previously suffered a turbine failure in Honolulu in November 1967.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Checklist Consolidation
BOAC combined the 'Engine Fire Drill' and 'Engine Severe Failure Drill' into a single 'Engine Fire or Severe Failure Drill' to prevent confusion during high-stress events.
Fire Handle Confirmation
Checklists were modified to include an explicit confirmation step that fire shut-off handles have been pulled.