Flight HA-33 | Registration: N361HA
Date: 11 April 2025 | Location: Los Angeles International Airport (KLAX), USA
Flight Details
Aircraft Type: Airbus A330-243 Engines: 2 × Rolls-Royce Trent 772B-60 Operator: Hawaiian Airlines Registration: N361HA Flight Number: HA-33 Callsign: HAL33 Route: Los Angeles International Airport (KLAX), USA to Kahului Airport (PHOG), Maui, Hawaii Date of Incident: 11 April 2025 Total Occupants: Estimated 270 (passengers and crew) Weather Conditions: Visual Meteorological Conditions, dry runway
Introduction
On 11 April 2025, Hawaiian Airlines flight HA-33 aborted its takeoff at high speed (~100 knots groundspeed) from runway 24L at Los Angeles International Airport due to an unstable nose wheel condition. The aircraft, an Airbus A330-200 registered N361HA, was departing for Kahului, Hawaii, when the crew executed a rejected takeoff (RTO) just moments before reaching V1. The aircraft vacated the runway safely and taxied under its own power to the apron. No injuries or aircraft damage were reported.
The FAA subsequently opened an investigation into the occurrence, which caused a departure delay of approximately 3 hours and 50 minutes.
Sequence of Events
Flight HA-33 was cleared for departure from LAX’s runway 24L at approximately 08:00 local time. Acceleration appeared normal until the aircraft reached approximately 100 knots, whereupon the crew observed instability in the nose wheel system—likely indicated by vibrations, directional control anomalies, or EICAS warnings.
The Captain, acting as Pilot Flying, initiated a high-speed rejected takeoff, applying maximum braking and bringing the aircraft to a controlled stop. As per Airbus A330 RTO protocols:
Reverse thrust was applied Autobrake MAX mode activated or manual braking initiated Nose wheel steering monitored to maintain directional control
The aircraft slowed safely, vacated the runway at the far end, and taxied unaided to the gate for further technical inspection.
The flight was rescheduled to depart approximately 3 hours and 50 minutes later, after engineering inspections cleared the aircraft for service. The aircraft landed in Kahului with a total delay of 3 hours and 45 minutes.
Crew & Communication
The crew adhered to standard operating procedures for a high-speed RTO. The decision to abort at 100 knots—near the V1 decision speed—indicates that the fault was considered a major safety concern, in line with Airbus’s takeoff rejection criteria, which include:
Engine failure Fire indications Windshear Flight control or directional instability Unsafe gear indications
Communication with ATC was immediate and effective, with LAX Tower promptly halting further departures and clearing the runway.
Cabin crew initiated passenger reassurance procedures, and no emergency evacuation was required.
Aircraft Systems & Technical Analysis
The Airbus A330-200 nose wheel system incorporates:
Dual steering actuators, hydraulic-controlled Electronic nose gear steering computers (NGSC) Proximity sensors for gear alignment Anti-skid and braking logic integration
Possible technical causes of nose wheel instability include:
Loss of hydraulic pressure to the steering actuators Sensor or actuator faults resulting in excessive yaw or vibration Steering disconnects or hard-over inputs Structural looseness or fatigue in nose gear components
Post-incident inspection would have included:
BITE (Built-In Test Equipment) data download Visual inspection of nose gear and tyres Hydraulic system leak checks NGSC fault logs analysis
Given the aircraft was cleared for departure later the same morning, the fault was either non-repetitive, sensor-related, or resolved by system reset and testing.
Passenger Experience & Cabin Conditions
From a passenger’s perspective, the rejected takeoff would have been abrupt and forceful:
Rapid deceleration and noticeable brake noise Possible announcement or PA explaining the return Return to the gate under normal taxi procedures
No injuries were reported, and cabin crew maintained control during and after the RTO. The delay was communicated, and passengers were reboarded for the resumed flight.
Emergency Response & Aftermath
The rejected takeoff did not trigger emergency services, as the aircraft decelerated under full control and no fire or smoke indications were present.
Runway 24L remained closed briefly to confirm tyre integrity and brake status, before being reopened. Hawaiian Airlines ground operations coordinated maintenance review and re-clearance for flight.
Investigation Status
The FAA confirmed they are investigating the incident, in line with standard protocols for high-speed RTOs. The investigation will examine:
Flight data and cockpit voice recordings Maintenance logs and nose gear inspection history Pilot reports and fault indications
No official cause has yet been released, but the rapid return to service suggests the issue did not involve structural damage or permanent system failure.
Root Cause & Contributing Factors
Probable Cause (under investigation):
Suspected nose wheel instability or steering system malfunction, triggering a high-speed takeoff rejection near V1.
Potential Contributing Factors:
Sensor fault or NGSC transient error Hydraulic pressure fluctuation or steering actuator hesitation Brake or tyre imbalance interpreted as instability
Further details are expected upon conclusion of the FAA investigation.
Safety Recommendations & Industry Impact
Although not uncommon, high-speed rejected takeoffs carry operational risks including:
Tyre overheating and brake fade Runway excursions if directional control is lost Passenger injuries due to abrupt deceleration
This event reinforces the importance of:
Accurate V1 calculation and rejection discipline Thorough pre-flight nose gear inspections BITE data monitoring for steering systems Crew recurrent training for RTO scenarios near V1 thresholds
Airlines may also consider enhancing predictive maintenance on steering actuators and control systems for ageing A330 fleets.
Conclusion
The crew of Hawaiian Airlines flight HA-33 demonstrated sound decision-making and precise aircraft handling during a high-speed rejected takeoff, prioritising safety in response to an unstable nose wheel condition. Although the incident resulted in a short delay, it highlights the criticality of decisive action during high-energy phases of flight and the robustness of Airbus RTO systems in managing such scenarios.
Disclaimer
This article is based on publicly available information and reports at the time of writing. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, we cannot guarantee the completeness of the information provided.
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