The New Zealand Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) has officially confirmed that pilot error was the cause of the runway excursion involving an Air New Zealand Boeing 777-300ER during its landing at Auckland International Airport (AKL).
Autopilot Disengaged Too Late, Critical Inputs Lost
According to TAIC’s final report, the aircraft—carrying 271 passengers and 16 crew—was arriving from Melbourne on 27 January 2023. It attempted to land on runway 05R in heavy rain and strong crosswinds. During the approach, the autopilot helped align the aircraft with the runway centerline and applied crucial inputs, including left aileron and right rudder corrections to compensate for crosswinds.
However, the captain violated Air New Zealand’s standard procedure, which requires autopilot to be disengaged between 300 and 600 feet above ground, by disabling the system at only 20 metres altitude. This late disengagement made it difficult to manually maintain the critical control inputs.
Just 9 Seconds of Chaos: Loss of Control Ensued
Within just 9 seconds of the autopilot being turned off, the aircraft entered its landing phase. During this short window:
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The throttle was immediately reduced to idle.
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A landing flare was initiated within 3 seconds.
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The left aileron input was not maintained, resulting in a 3.69-degree roll to the right.
This caused the aircraft to rapidly deviate from the runway centerline, colliding with six edge lights before coming to a stop.
No Mechanical Faults, Weather Challenging but Not Critical
The report confirmed that although the runway was wet, there was no standing water and the surface conditions did not contribute to the incident. There were also no mechanical issues with the aircraft’s automated systems or flight equipment. The investigation concluded that the primary cause was the pilot’s delayed and insufficient manual intervention.
Damage Sustained, No Injuries Reported
While no injuries or fatalities occurred, the aircraft sustained notable damage:
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Five right main landing gear tyres were damaged.
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The inner rear tyre was completely deflated.
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Additional damage occurred to the right brake assembly and wiring systems.
Extensive maintenance and parts replacement were required before the aircraft could return to service.
TAIC Stresses Safety Improvements
Following the incident, TAIC issued a safety advisory emphasizing the importance of correct autopilot disengagement timing and proper manual control transition. It recommended that pilot training place greater focus on transitioning to manual control in adverse weather conditions.
