FACTUAL INFORMATION: SAFETY INVESTIGATION FOR MH370 (9M-MRO)

Summary

This interim factual information report outlines the initial findings of the safety investigation into the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 (Boeing B777-200ER, registration 9M-MRO) on 08 March 2014. It compiles comprehensive records regarding the history of the flight, flight crew and cabin crew profiles, aircraft maintenance and airworthiness, communications and SATCOM data, organizational management, and detailed radiotelephony/coordination transcripts.

Cover Page

FACTUAL INFORMATION SAFETY INVESTIGATION FOR MH370

Malaysia Airlines MH370 Boeing B777-200ER (9M-MRO) 08 March 2014 By The Malaysian ICAO Annex 13 Safety Investigation Team for MH370 Issued on 8th March 2015 (Updated on 15th April 2015) Ministry of Transport, Malaysia

Addendum

Addendum:

Section 1.9.4.1 (Page 46): Unit for Gross Weight (GWT) in Table 1.9A changed from kg to lb (Date: 15 Apr 2015)
Appendix 1.6B (Page 1): lb added as unit for Gross Weight (GWT) (Date: 15 Apr 2015)
Appendix 1.6B (Page 2): Abbreviation ‘SFC’ described (Date: 15 Apr 2015)
Appendix 1.6B (Page 1 & 2): Last 4 rows in EHM Parameter Key moved from Page 1 to Page 2 (Date: 15 Apr 2015)

Objective of Investigation & Disclaimer

OBJECTIVE OF INVESTIGATION: The sole objective of the investigation is the prevention of future accidents or incidents and not for the purpose to apportion blame or liability. (Annex 13, Chapter 3, paragraph 3.1, page 3.1)

DISCLAIMER: The factual information provided herein is of an interim nature. Readers are advised that new information may become available that may alter this interim factual information prior to the publication of the Final Report. This factual information contains facts which have been determined up to the time of issue.

Section 1.1 - History of the Flight

1.1.1 Flight between 1642 to 1719:30 UTC [0042 to 0119:30 MYT]: On 07 March 2014 at 1642 UTC, Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, a Boeing 777-200ER (9M-MRO) departed Runway 32R at KLIA bound for Beijing with 239 persons on board (227 passengers, 12 crew). The Captain was conducting line training for the First Officer. Take-off fuel was 49,100 kg with an endurance of 07 hours 31 minutes. Radio clearance and climb to FL350 proceeded normally. Last ACARS transmission occurred at 1707:29 UTC. At 1719:30 UTC, MH370 made its last recorded radio transmission: ‘Good night Malaysia Three Seven Zero’.

1.1.2 Activities by Ground Air Traffic Controllers Thereafter: At 1720:31 UTC, MH370 passed waypoint IGARI. Secondary radar (Mode S) symbol dropped off at 1720:36 UTC, and last secondary radar position was recorded at 1721:13 UTC. HCM ATCC queried KL ATCC at 1739:06 UTC. KL RCC was activated at 2232 UTC.

1.1.3 Diversion from Filed Flight Plan Route: Military radar data showed an ‘Air Turn Back’ turning left south-westerly across Peninsular Malaysia, passing slightly south of Penang Island at 1752:35 UTC, tracking towards Pulau Perak (1802:59 UTC), and disappearing abruptly at 1822:12 UTC, 10 Nm after waypoint MEKAR.

1.1.4 Search for Aircraft: Analysis coordinated by ATSB of satellite communications signals with Inmarsat’s Indian Ocean Region satellite indicated the aircraft flew south into the southern Indian Ocean until fuel exhaustion.

Section 1.5 - Personnel Information

Pilot-in-Command (PIC):

Age: 53 years, Male, Married with 3 children.
Joined MAS: 15 June 1981.
Total Aeronautical Experience: 18,423:40 hours (8,659:40 on type B777).
Role: Type Rating Instructor (TRI) and Type Rating Examiner (TRE).

First Officer (FO):

Age: 27 years, Male, Single.
Joined MAS: 23 July 2007.
Total Aeronautical Experience: 2,813:42 hours (39:11 on type B777).

Cabin Crew:

10 cabin crew members ranging in experience from 13 to 35 years.
Financial background, medical history, CCTV behavioral patterns, and personal backgrounds showed no significant abnormalities or stressors.

Section 1.6 - Aircraft Information

Airframe & Engines:

Boeing 777-2H6ER, S/N 28420, Reg 9M-MRO, manufactured 29 May 2002.
Total Airframe Hours/Cycles: 53,471.6 hours / 7,526 cycles.
Engines: Rolls-Royce RB211 Trent 892B-17.
APU: Allied Signal GTCP 331-500B (22,093 hours).

Airworthiness & Maintenance:

Full compliance with Airworthiness Directives.
Crew oxygen system was serviced on 07 March 2014 to 1800 psi.
Weight and balance within limits: TOW 223,469 kg (Max 286,897 kg).
Flight recorders: Honeywell SSFDR (Model 4700) and SSCVR (Model 6022). Note: SSFDR ULB battery had expired in December 2012 due to a database update omission in the Engineering Maintenance System, while SSCVR ULB was valid to June 2014.

Section 1.9 - Communications & SATCOM Logs

ACARS & SATCOM Overview:

Normal ACARS position and engine reports received up to 1707:29 UTC.
Failed ground-to-air ACARS uplink messages began at 1803:23 UTC.
SATCOM log-on initiated by aircraft at 1825:27 UTC (1st handshake) following link loss between 1707:48 and 1803:41 UTC.
Hourly ground-initiated handshakes at 1941, 2041, 2141, 2241, and 0010 UTC.
Unanswered ground-to-air telephony calls at 1839 and 2313 UTC.
Final SATCOM log-on request (7th handshake) initiated by aircraft at 0019:29 UTC on 08 March 2014. No response to 0115:56 UTC interrogation.

Section 1.18 - Cargo & Additional Information

Cargo Information:

Total cargo weight: 10,806 kg.
Consolidated cargo included 2,453 kg of Motorola walkie-talkie accessories and chargers (containing 221 kg of Lithium-Ion batteries, packed non-regulated under Section II PI 965-970).
4,566 kg of fresh mangosteen fruit packed in four ULD containers.

Air Traffic Control Coordination & SAR:

Detailed event chronologies and transcripts of communications between KL ATCC, Ho Chi Minh ATCC, Singapore ACC, and MAS Operations Centre regarding the loss of contact and overdue actions leading to the issuance of DETRESFA at 2232 UTC.