# NTSB ENG09WA005: Boeing 747-436, Johannesburg, South Africa, May 11, 2009

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Foreign investigation
- Date: May 11, 2009, 18:37 local (18:37 UTC)
- Place: Johannesburg, South Africa
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Status: Led by another country's authority
- NTSB office: Aviation Engineering Division
- Lead agency: Other
- NTSB case key (mKey): 73841
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ENG09WA005
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73841/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ENG09WA005

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340); cases with it: [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md)

## Factual narrative

On May 11, 2009 at 18:37 UTC, a British Airways Boeing 747, powered by Rolls-Royce RB211-524H2-T engines, experienced a No. 3 thrust reverser unlock light illumination during the takeoff roll from the Tambo International Airport (FAJS - formerly known as Johannesburg International Airport) while the airplane was traveling at 124 knots. The No. 2 engine thrust reverser unlock light came on at 163 knots and just prior to rotation the slats retracted. The airplane rotated and climbed at a 200 foot per minute rate. The flight crew dumped fuel and did an air turn back to FAJS where a safe and uneventful landing was made. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the government of South Africa. Further information pertaining to this incident may be obtained from: General Manager, Safety Promotion South African Civil Aviation Authority Private Bag X73 Halfway House Waterfall Park 1685 Pretoria South Africa Tel.: (27) 011 545 1000 E-mail: mail@caa.co.za Fax: (27) 011 545 1465 Website: http://www.caa.co.za This report is for information purposes only and contains only information obtained for, or released by the Government of South Africa.

## Aircraft

- Registration: G-BYGA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 747-436
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28855
- Engines: Rolls-Royce RB211-524H2-T turbo fan; RB211-524H2-T turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Non-U.S., commercial
- Operator: British Airways
- Registered owner: British Airways
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: FAJS, Johannesburg
- Destination: EGLL, London Heathrow
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: FAJS, Tambo International Airport

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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