Investigation Summary
The accident occurred at El Dorado International Airport, which is situated at a high elevation of approximately 8,360 feet, significantly impacting aircraft performance during engine-out scenarios. As the aircraft reached rotation speed (Vr) of 152 knots and pitched to 13 degrees, the number 4 engine (outer right) surged four times and lost power. The crew declared an emergency and initiated a left-hand turn to return to the airport. During this maneuver, the number 1 engine (outer left) suffered a low-pressure turbine failure, ejecting internal components through the exhaust. With both outboard engines failed, the aircraft could not sustain flight. Furthermore, the number 2 engine began to surge repeatedly in the final 90 seconds of flight. The aircraft struck power lines and trees before skidding into a farm building in the municipality of Madrid.
Final Conclusions
The investigation by Aerocivil (Colombia) concluded that the crash was caused by the aircraft's inability to maintain flight following the loss of power in two engines. The failure of engine 4 was attributed to an inefficient high-pressure turbine with excessive blade-tip clearance and worn fan blades, which impaired its stability at high altitude. The failure of engine 1 involved a third-stage low-pressure turbine anomaly that manifested under the high power demands required to compensate for the first failure. The final report (COL-08-10-GIA) was published on 22 August 2011.
Video Analysis
Losing Almost All Engines On Takeoff | Centurion Air Cargo Flight 164 — A detailed look at the 2008 crash of a Kalitta Air Boeing 747 in Colombia following a triple engine failure shortly after departing Bogota.
If playback is blocked, the owner has disabled embedding — use the link above.
Airframe & Maintenance
Crew Experience
Captain
Bryant Beebe, age 51
First Officer
Ivan Dankha, age 49
Flight Engineer
Joseph Kendall, age 59
Systems & Failure Modes
Pratt & Whitney JT9D-7AQ Engines
The aircraft was powered by four JT9D-7AQ engines. Engines 4 and 1 suffered catastrophic failures, while engine 2 experienced multiple surges before impact.
High Pressure Turbine (HPT)
Post-crash analysis of engine 4 found excessive blade tip clearance and reduced chord in the HPT, which reduced engine power by an estimated 5.8%.
Low Pressure Turbine (LPT)
Engine 1 failed due to a loss of guide vanes or an air seal in the third stage of the LPT, leading to the ejection of engine parts.
Interesting Facts
- 01[object Object]
- 02[object Object]
- 03[object Object]
- 04[object Object]
- 05[object Object]
Safety Actions & Advisories
Engine Maintenance and Performance Monitoring
The investigation highlighted the need for stricter monitoring of high-pressure turbine (HPT) efficiency, specifically regarding blade tip clearances and fan blade wear, which significantly impacted engine stability at high-altitude airports like Bogotá.
Operational Procedures for Multi-Engine Failure
Recommendations were made to review and enhance flight crew training for handling multiple engine failures during the critical takeoff and climb phases, particularly in high-density altitude environments.