TAROM Flight 371

TAROM Flight 371

A TAROM Airbus A310-300 similar to aircraft involved in the accident
Accident summary
Date	31 March 1995 (1995-03-31)
Summary	Mechanical failure followed by pilot error
Site	Baloteşti, Romania 44°25′N 26°06′E / 44.417°N 26.100°E / 44.417; 26.100Coordinates: 44°25′N 26°06′E / 44.417°N 26.100°E / 44.417; 26.100
Passengers	50
Crew	10
Fatalities	60 (all)
Survivors	0
Aircraft type	Airbus A310-324
Aircraft name	Muntenia
Operator	TAROM
Registration	YR-LCC
Flight origin	Otopeni International Airport, Bucharest, Romania
Destination	Brussel-Zaventem Airport, Brussels, Belgium

TAROM Flight 371 (RO371/ROT371) was a scheduled international passenger flight, flying with an Airbus A310 from Otopeni International Airport in Romania's capital Bucharest to Brussels Airport in Brussels, Belgium. The flight was operated by TAROM, the flag carrier of Romania. On 31 March 1995 the Airbus A310-324, registered as YR-LCC, stalled after take off and crashed near Baloteşti in Romania. All 60 people aboard were killed in the crash.

Investigation on the crash revealed that the throttle of the starboard engine jammed in-flight. The crew later failed to respond properly to the failure. This combination then led to the aircraft crashing. The investigative committee then concluded that mechanical failure followed by pilot error as the cause of the crash.The crash was the deadliest plane crash in Romania's history. It was also the deadliest plane crash in TAROM's operational history.

TAROM Flight 371 took off at 08:06 local time (06:06 UTC) and was piloted by 48-year-old Captain Liviu Batanoiu and 51-year-old First Officer Ionel Stoi. The pilot handling the aircraft was First Officer Ionel Stoi. After Flight 371 crossed the altitude of 2.000 ft, a thrust asymmetry occurred on the left engine of the Airbus A310. The crew then noticed the anomaly. First Officer Ionel then asked Captain Liviu to retract the flaps and slats. Captain Liviu then retracted the flaps, however he didn't retract the slats. The speed of the aircraft began to decrease and the aircraft banked to the left.

At 08:08 local time, the engine thrust asymmetry reached almost the maximum value on the EPRs. The aircraft began to bank severely to the left with an angle of 43 degree. The Flight Data Recorder recorded an attempt to engage the autopilot no. 1. Then, a continuous thrust reduction on engine no. 2 was noted. The autopilot then disengaged by the crew and the aircraft began to lose altitude rapidly. Flight 371 began to dive to the ground. The aircraft rolled with the airspeed increasing. First Officer Ionel then cried out "That one has failed!". At the time, the aircraft was nose diving with a pitch angle of 61 degree. The aircraft then crashed onto the ground near Balotesti with a speed of 324 knots.

Bucharest Tower then frantically tried to contact Flight 371, but with no avail. Bucharest Tower then asked another aircraft flying in the vicinity to contact Flight 371. TAROM dispatcher was also asked to contact Flight 371. Knowing that Flight 371 had lost all contact, Bucharest Tower issued a DESTRESFA on the flight. Search and rescue team were assembled by authorities and later found the crash site. The aircraft was pulverized on impact. The impact left a 6 meters deep crater on the field. No survivors were found. All 60 people aboard were killed instantly on impact.