Date:	Friday 8 March 2024
Time:	07:58
Type:	Boeing 737 MAX 8
Owner/operator:	United Airlines
Registration:	N27290
MSN:	44309/7779
Year of manufacture:	2019
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 166
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH/KIAH), Houston, TX -   United States of America
Phase:	Landing
Nature:	Passenger - Scheduled
Departure airport:	Memphis International Airport, TN (MEM/KMEM)
Destination airport:	Houston-George Bush Intercontinental Airport, TX (IAH/KIAH)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Information verified through data from accident investigation authorities

Narrative:
On March 8, 2024, at about 0758 central standard time, United Airlines flight 2477, a Boeing 737-8, N27290, experienced a runway excursion while exiting runway 27 onto taxiway SC at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), Houston, Texas. The left main landing gear (MLG) departed the paved surface and contacted a concrete structure that was recessed into the ground, resulting in its separation. The 6 crew and 160 passengers were deplaned via airstairs. No injuries were reported. The flight was a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 scheduled domestic passenger flight from Memphis International Airport (MEM), Memphis, Tennessee to IAH.

In response to the accident, the NTSB traveled to Houston. As part of the investigative process, the NTSB invited qualified parties to participate in the investigation. These included the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), United Airlines, The Boeing Company, and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA).

The parties were formed into specialized investigative groups led by NTSB group chairs in the areas of Operations, Human Performance, Systems, Structures, Digital Flight Data Recorder (DVDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR).

History of Flight
According to the flight crew, the captain was the pilot flying and the first officer (FO) was the pilot monitoring. The captain said he observed the reported runway surface condition codes when checking the automatic terminal information system (ATIS) via his electronic flight bag (EFB). For runway 26L and 26R, he recalled seeing codes of 3/3/3 and for runway 27 codes of 5/5/5. The actual runway surface condition codes being broadcasted on the ATIS for runway 27 at the time were 3/3/3 which according to the runway condition assessment matrix (RCAM) indicated the runway was slippery when wet and “braking deceleration is noticeably reduced for the wheel braking effort applied or directional control is noticeably reduced.”

When the crew checked in with Houston Approach Control, they were told to expect a landing on runway 26L. The captain asked the FO to request a landing on runway 27 instead. The FO made, and the controller approved the request and issued instructions for the instrument landing system (ILS) approach to runway 27. After checking in with Houston Tower (about 12,000 feet msl according to the FO), the captain asked the FO to request approval to roll to the end of runway 27. The FO made the request. A tower controller approved it and instructed them, “keep your speed up”. The captain changed the autobrake setting from 2 to 1 (which would command a reduced deceleration rate). The approach was conducted in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) and, according to the crew, the airplane broke out of the clouds between 800 and 1,000 feet msl. They reported that visibility under the clouds was good, and the captain recalled that the runway appeared dry. The FO recalled that the runway appeared wet.

The crew stated that the touchdown was uneventful, at an appropriate speed, and within the touchdown zone. The speed brakes extended normally, and the thrust reversers were deployed to idle reverse thrust. The captain said that, shortly after touchdown, he retracted the speedbrakes by the action of moving the speedbrake lever to its down and locked position, which disabled the autobrakes. He did not “slow too much initially” because the runway appeared dry, he wanted to expedite their time on the runway, and because he preferred decelerating gradually for passenger comfort.

The captain said he applied the brakes manually using the toe brakes at about 6,000 feet from the end of the runway but felt as if the deceleration was less than normal. DFDR data and automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data indicated that after the disabling of the autobrakes occurred, manual braking did not begin until the airplane was about 4,000 feet from the end of the runway. The captain recalled hearing the runway awareness and advisory system (RAAS) alert indicating 1,000 ft of runway distance remaining. He became concerned and began applying more pressure to the brakes. As he approached the end of the runway, he elected to attempt to turn onto taxiway SC, by utilizing the steering tiller and rudder pedals while pushing aggressively on the brake pedals.

During the turn onto the taxiway, he felt the fuselage and rudder/brake pedals begin to shake violently. He briefly released the brake pressure and the shaking ceased. He then reapplied aggressive brake pressure and the shaking resumed. The airplane slid off the runway and the left MLG tires and nose wheels tires entered the grass before the airplane came to a rest with its left wing low.

A postaccident examination of the accident site revealed that the left MLG tires had impacted a large concrete “manhole” designed as an electrical junction box for lights/utilities at the airport. As a result of the impact, the left MLG separated from the airplane at the fuse pins near the rear spar as designed to prevent more severe damage to surrounding structures. The airplane came to rest on the left engine nacelle, left winglet, and aft fuselage and sustained substantial damage to the left wing and aft fuselage.

Flight Crew
The captain was 61 years old and held an airline transport pilot (ATP) certificate with a rating for multiengine-land, commercial privileges for airplane single engine land, and type ratings on the B-727, B-737, B-757, B-767 which included the limitation English Proficient. He held an FAA first-class medical certificate dated October 4, 2023, with the limitation of must use corrective lenses to meet vision standards at all required distances.

The captain was hired by United Airlines on April 29, 1987, and had accumulated about 15,191 hours in B-737 aircraft with about 9,607 of those hours as pilot-in-command.

The FO was 38 years old and held an ATP certificate with a rating for multi-engine land, commercial privileges for airplane single engine land, and type ratings in the B-737, and L-188 which included the limitation of B-737 Circling approach VMC Only, and English Proficient. He held an FAA first-class medical certificate dated June 8, 2023.

The FO was hired by United Airlines on October 1, 2019, and had accumulated about 1,252 hours in B-737 aircraft.

Weather Conditions and Flight Crew Procedures
A Meteorological Aerodrome Report (METAR) at IAH was reporting at 0753 CST, wind from 190° at 5 knots, tower visibility 1 ½ mile in mist, ceiling broken at 800 ft agl, overcast at 1,800 ft, temperature 23°C (73°F), dew point temperature 22°C (71°F), altimeter 29.71 inches of mercury. Remarks: automated observation system with a precipitation discriminator, surface visibility 2 ½ miles, sea level pressure 1005.9-hPa, temperature 22.8°C, dew point 21.7°C. Photos and surveillance video during and immediately following the accident indicated wet runway and taxiway surface conditions.

United Airlines supplementary flight crew procedures required for “Landing on Wet or Slippery Runway” stated in part:

𝘜𝘴𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘹𝘪𝘮𝘶𝘮 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯. 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘦𝘥. 𝘋𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯.

𝘈𝘶𝘵𝘰𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨

𝘋𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘵 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘰𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 3 𝘰𝘳 𝘔𝘈𝘟, 𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦. 𝘐𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘥𝘰𝘶𝘣𝘵 𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘴, 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘷𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦, 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘔𝘈𝘟 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘰𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴.

Data
Data from the DFDR was sent to the NTSB’s Vehicle Recorder Laboratory in Washington, DC, for analysis. Data showed that at touchdown the speed brake lever position [Speed Brake Lever Pos] and auto brake parameters were full up and on for about 5 seconds before transitioning to down and locked and off for the remainder of the landing rollout.

The engine thrust reversers were deployed for the left and right engines for about 27 and 26 seconds respectively at idle reverse. The left and right brake pressure increased to their maximum pressure consistent with aggressive manual braking before and as the airplane’s heading changed consistent with a right turn.

The CVR was removed from the airplane and sent to the NTSB’s Vehicle Recorder Laboratory in Washington, DC, for analysis.

Certified ADS-B data, which records more accurate latitude and longitude data than the DFDR, was provided to the NTSB by the FAA. Analysis of the ADS-B and DFDR data shows that the airplane touched down about 1,000 feet from the runway threshold with a groundspeed of about 158 knots. With about 1,000 ft and 500 ft of runway remaining the airplane groundspeeds were about 72 kts and 57 kts respectively. The right turn to exit the runway was initiated at about 39 kts groundspeed and the aircraft departed the end of the paved surface at about 22 kts.

weather about the incident time (1358Z):
KIAH 081453Z 16005KT 1 1/2SM BR BKN008 OVC020 23/22 A2972 RMK AO2 SLP063 60002 T02280222 51014
KIAH 081353Z 19005KT 1 1/2SM BR BKN008 OVC018 23/22 A2971 RMK AO2 SFC VIS 2 1/2 SLP059 T02280217

https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2024/03/08/plane-goes-off-runway-at-bush-airport-no-injuries-reported/


https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n27290#344859ac

So this happened today…#UnitedAirlines #imsafe #Houston #IAH #flying #plane #Memphisflight pic.twitter.com/gLKBsXnDTQ

— Vicki.O (@VickiO_theDO) March 8, 2024

⁦@flightradar24⁩ UAL2477 (?) off the runway at IAH pic.twitter.com/d2w5g1D8Kb

— Ren Ganner (@RenGanner) March 8, 2024

Up close photos of @United Flight 2477 (Boeing 737 MAX 8) that left the runway and came to a stop in grass at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston. @KPRC2 has learned no one was injured.

📸 Janet Bumbarger pic.twitter.com/oH8JZa1lGZ

— Gage Goulding - KPRC 2 (@GageGoulding) March 8, 2024

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
08-Mar-2024 15:39	aus	Added
08-Mar-2024 15:40	ASN	Updated [Cn, Source, Narrative]
08-Mar-2024 15:45	ASN	Updated [Time, Source, Embed code, Damage, Narrative, Category]
08-Mar-2024 16:04	ASN	Updated [Embed code, Narrative]
08-Mar-2024 17:07	ASN	Updated [Embed code, Narrative]
08-Mar-2024 17:39	Anon.	Updated [Embed code, Damage]
08-Mar-2024 20:48	vasilf	Updated [Embed code]
09-Mar-2024 06:42	Anon.	Updated [Embed code, Narrative]
31-Mar-2024 17:06	ASN	Updated [[Embed code, Narrative]]
05-Apr-2024 13:51	Captain Adam	Updated [Time, Total occupants, Location, Narrative, Category, Accident report]
06-Apr-2024 06:12	ASN	Updated [[Time, Total occupants, Location, Narrative, Category, Accident report]]