Remember the British Airtours B737-200 accident at Manchester in 1985? For those that don't, the aircraft had an uncontained engine failure during take-off which punctured a wing fuel tank access panel. The resulting fuel leak ignited, and a high speed RTO was initiated, the aircraft being turned off the runway onto a link taxiway at low speed. Unfortunately this resulted in the fuel fire being upwind of the fuselage, and being blown towards the cabin, with disastrous results. It should be pointed out that the wind at the time was only 7 knots.
The AAIB report (which is available at
www.aaib.detr.gov.uk/formal/gbgjl/gbgjl.htm)suggests that "procedures should be developed to enable the crew to position an aircraft, when a ground fire emergency exists, with the fire downwind of the fuselage".
Does anybody have any experience of operating in accordance with this recommendation? Has anybody actually tried, in the sim for example, a high speed RTO with an engine fire, turning into wind at the last minute. A read of the above report is enough to convince anybody of the need to avoid spending any time at all with a fire upwind of the fuselage - but there are clear handling issues, particularly with RTO braking from a high speed abort on a short runway.
I've heard valid arguments in favour of stopping on runway heading regardless, or turning into wind at the last minute. Any further comments or advice would be much appreciated.