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B757-200 encounters severe wake turbulence in trail of B777. Two severe rolls and nearly 1000 foot uncontrolled climb results.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 752387 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200709 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : ict.airport |
| State Reference | KS |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 38000 msl bound upper : 38900 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zkc.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B757-200 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zkc.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B777 Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain observation : company check pilot oversight : pic |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 10 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 3000 |
| ASRS Report | 752387 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 3000 |
| ASRS Report | 752388 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : wake turbulence other anomaly |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa other flight crewb |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued new clearance flight crew : regained aircraft control |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Environmental Factor Airspace Structure |
| Primary Problem | Environmental Factor |
Narrative:
Cleared to FL380 for traffic. Within a minute of leveling; we encountered severe wake turbulence from (assumption) a B777 12 miles ahead at FL380. First a jolt like hitting CAT; then two severe lh rolls. The second one was accompanied by a strong push upwards to about 38900 ft. I pushed forward to counter the push; but saw the airspeed increasing and felt that I was approaching zero G; so I let the altitude increase; feeling that was the safest choice; since there was no traffic in our vicinity on TCAS. As I returned to FL380; we turned left about 20 degrees and asked for and received a clearance to offset 1 mile right. The controller mentioned our altitude deviation but seemed satisfied when we explained our circumstances. Flew 1 mile right offset until the B777 was 22 miles ahead and descending. No reported injuries from flight attendants or passenger.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: B757-200 ENCOUNTERS SEVERE WAKE TURB IN TRAIL OF B777. TWO SEVERE ROLLS AND NEARLY 1000 FOOT UNCONTROLLED CLIMB RESULTS.
Narrative: CLRED TO FL380 FOR TFC. WITHIN A MINUTE OF LEVELING; WE ENCOUNTERED SEVERE WAKE TURBULENCE FROM (ASSUMPTION) A B777 12 MILES AHEAD AT FL380. FIRST A JOLT LIKE HITTING CAT; THEN TWO SEVERE LH ROLLS. THE SECOND ONE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A STRONG PUSH UPWARDS TO ABOUT 38900 FT. I PUSHED FORWARD TO COUNTER THE PUSH; BUT SAW THE AIRSPEED INCREASING AND FELT THAT I WAS APCHING ZERO G; SO I LET THE ALTITUDE INCREASE; FEELING THAT WAS THE SAFEST CHOICE; SINCE THERE WAS NO TFC IN OUR VICINITY ON TCAS. AS I RETURNED TO FL380; WE TURNED L ABOUT 20 DEGS AND ASKED FOR AND RECEIVED A CLRNC TO OFFSET 1 MILE R. THE CTLR MENTIONED OUR ALTITUDE DEV BUT SEEMED SATISFIED WHEN WE EXPLAINED OUR CIRCUMSTANCES. FLEW 1 MILE R OFFSET UNTIL THE B777 WAS 22 MILES AHEAD AND DSNDING. NO RPTED INJURIES FROM FLT ATTENDANTS OR PAX.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.