Jazz CRJ-900 Incident Near Los Angeles: Runway Excursion, Fuel Leak, and In-Flight Engine Shutdown

On November 29th, 2021, a Jazz Canadair CRJ-900 operating as flight AC-8767 on behalf of Air Canada encountered multiple issues during its journey from San Diego, CA, to Vancouver, BC, Canada. The aircraft, registered C-GJZV, was carrying 69 passengers and 4 crew members when it experienced a runway excursion during takeoff, leading to a fuel leak and subsequent engine shutdown in flight.

Sequence of Events

Takeoff Incident:
The incident began during the aircraft’s departure from San Diego’s runway 27. During the takeoff roll, the crew noticed the aircraft veering left of the centerline. Despite corrective actions, the aircraft’s left main landing gear struck three runway edge lights, causing damage to the aircraft’s left tire and flap. However, the flight crew did not recognize the contact with the runway lights, attributing the vibrations and noise to normal runway centerline light contact. Consequently, the aircraft continued its takeoff and climbed to cruising altitude.

In-Flight Fuel Leak and Engine Shutdown:
Approximately 110nm north-northwest of Los Angeles at FL340, the flight crew noticed a fuel imbalance, indicating a potential fuel leak from the #1 engine (CF34). Following standard procedures, the crew shut down the affected engine and declared an emergency, opting to divert to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). During the approach to LAX, the aircraft’s left main tire deflated, leading to further complications upon landing.

Landing and Passenger Evacuation:
The aircraft safely landed on LAX’s runway 24L, but came to a stop with two blown main tires. Emergency services were immediately dispatched as the passengers were evacuated onto the runway and transported to the terminal by bus. No injuries were reported among the passengers or crew.

Investigation and Findings

The Canadian Transportation Safety Board (TSB) conducted an investigation into the incident, identifying several contributing factors:

• Runway Excursion: The investigation revealed that the aircraft had deviated from the runway centerline due to limited visibility in foggy conditions, which caused the captain to misalign the aircraft with the runway edge during taxi. The time pressure perceived by the crew further compounded the situation, leading to a runway excursion that damaged the left main landing gear and flap.
• Fuel Leak: The fuel imbalance experienced during the flight was traced to a malfunction of the Fuel Quantity Gauging Computer (FQGC). The inadvertent activation of the gravity crossflow valve, likely due to crew error, exacerbated the fuel imbalance by allowing fuel to transfer between the wing tanks during flight. This issue was unrelated to the damage sustained during the takeoff roll.
• Engine Shutdown: The crew’s decision to shut down the engine was in response to the fuel imbalance and the associated risks of continuing the flight with a compromised fuel system. The shutdown was a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of the flight.
• Runway Debris Risk: The TSB highlighted the risk posed by the debris left on the runway from the broken lights, which remained undetected for nearly eight hours after the incident, posing a potential hazard to other aircraft.

Conclusion

The incident involving Jazz flight AC-8767 underscores the challenges posed by adverse weather conditions, time pressure, and the importance of thorough procedural adherence. The crew’s swift actions in recognizing the fuel imbalance and diverting to a nearby airport likely prevented a more severe outcome. The TSB’s findings emphasize the need for improved runway safety measures, better crew training, and more robust systems to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

The aircraft was later ferried to Calgary for further repairs after temporary fixes were made at LAX. The TSB continues to monitor and assess similar incidents to enhance aviation safety across Canadian operations.