Adam Air Flight 782 Incident Overview

Key Facts

• Date: February 11, 2006
• Aircraft: Boeing 737
• Airline: Adam Air
• Route: Jakarta to Massar
• Passengers: 146
• Crew: 6

Incident Summary

• The flight experienced navigational problems over the Java Sea.
• A faulty Inertial Reference Unit (IRU) was installed before departure.
• The IRU provided incorrect positional data, leading the aircraft to drift off course.
• The plane eventually landed safely at Tambolaka Airport on the island of Sumba, far from its intended destination.

Pre-Flight Issues

• Faulty navigation system identified during pre-flight checks at Jakarta.
• Maintenance swapped the faulty IRU with a working one.
• Adam Air had a history of maintenance shortcuts and numerous incidents with the IRU in the past.

Flight Details

• The captain had over 7,000 flight hours, and the first officer had nearly 3,000.
• Takeoff from Jakarta was normal, but navigational issues began 15 minutes post departure.
• The autopilot followed a faulty IRU, leading to erroneous flight paths.

Error Detection

• A caution message "IRS nav only" appeared, indicating reliance solely on the IRU.
• Manual navigation would have shown discrepancies, e.g., sun position, but was ignored.
• Radar coverage issues and incorrectly calibrated alert systems delayed ground response.

Realization of the Issue

• The first officer noted instrument failures as the plane descended.
• The magnetic compass showed a different heading than the computer systems.
• Attempts to contact Air Traffic Control were unsuccessful due to range issues.

Descent and Landing

• Eventually, pilots spotted a runway and decided to land without full knowledge of their location.
• The plane landed safely at Tambolaka Airport, which was not equipped to handle a 737.
• All passengers and crew were unharmed.

Aftermath

• The incident revealed systemic maintenance deficiencies at Adam Air.
• There were pressures on pilots to fly despite known aircraft faults.
• Adam Air was banned and later went bankrupt in 2008.
• The incident served as a warning about poor maintenance and operational shortcuts.

Learning Points

• Importance of reliable navigation systems and backup checks.
• The need for proper maintenance and safety culture in airlines.
• The significance of thorough training for Air Traffic Control personnel.

Related Incidents

• A similar incident occurred a year later with a different Adam Air aircraft, resulting in a crash.
• The airline's practices were linked to systemic failures and ultimately led to its downfall.