Flight crew of air carrier widebody transport aircraft experienced a static electricity explosion sh...

Attributes
ACN	211585
Time
Date	199206
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bcn
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : bcn
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 17500 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	211585
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Shortly after takeoff on runway 07, we experienced what I felt was a static discharge explosion, of such a nature that it scared the hell out of everybody including the crew. I have experienced this occurrence before, as well as a lightning strike, and since there were no abnormalities with the aircraft, I elected to proceed to destination 40 min away. After reassuring the passenger that all was safe. Aircraft exterior was inspected after landing at destination, no damage was observed. I have since been told by those in authority that I should have dumped fuel to landing weight, returned to originating station through line of thunderstorms we had just penetrated, landed, and had aircraft inspected for damage. I am at a loss to explain this type of thinking. Perhaps with the state of the industry as it is, the most conservative action, not relying on crew experience, is the approach to be taken.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF AIR CARRIER WDB ACFT EXPERIENCED A STATIC ELECTRICITY EXPLOSION SHORTLY AFTER TKOF.

Narrative: SHORTLY AFTER TKOF ON RWY 07, WE EXPERIENCED WHAT I FELT WAS A STATIC DISCHARGE EXPLOSION, OF SUCH A NATURE THAT IT SCARED THE HELL OUT OF EVERYBODY INCLUDING THE CREW. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS OCCURRENCE BEFORE, AS WELL AS A LIGHTNING STRIKE, AND SINCE THERE WERE NO ABNORMALITIES WITH THE ACFT, I ELECTED TO PROCEED TO DEST 40 MIN AWAY. AFTER REASSURING THE PAX THAT ALL WAS SAFE. ACFT EXTERIOR WAS INSPECTED AFTER LNDG AT DEST, NO DAMAGE WAS OBSERVED. I HAVE SINCE BEEN TOLD BY THOSE IN AUTHORITY THAT I SHOULD HAVE DUMPED FUEL TO LNDG WT, RETURNED TO ORIGINATING STATION THROUGH LINE OF TSTMS WE HAD JUST PENETRATED, LANDED, AND HAD ACFT INSPECTED FOR DAMAGE. I AM AT A LOSS TO EXPLAIN THIS TYPE OF THINKING. PERHAPS WITH THE STATE OF THE INDUSTRY AS IT IS, THE MOST CONSERVATIVE ACTION, NOT RELYING ON CREW EXPERIENCE, IS THE APCH TO BE TAKEN.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.

Flight crew of air carrier widebody transport aircraft experienced a static electricity explosion shortly after takeoff.