MD80 crew took off with heavy xwinds.

Attributes
ACN	459550
Time
Date	200001
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lga.airport
State Reference	NY
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Weather Elements	other
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-82
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : takeoff roll
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 7300 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	459550
Person 2
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : company policies other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Weather
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

#3 for departure on runway 4 at lga. Tower reported winds 330 degrees at 17 KTS gust to 34 KTS. A departing air carrier DC9 declined a takeoff clearance because of the previously stated winds. Several other aircraft also declined runway 4. The first officer and I checked the MD82 crosswind limitations and referred to the crosswind component chart. We agreed that our steady wind component was 14 KTS and the gust component was 28 KTS. The runway was dry, maximum power was used and the WX was clear and 10 mi. The MD80 limitations in the fcom states that there is no crosswind limitation. It goes on to say that a component near 30 KTS 'with' (key word) higher gusts 'should' be considered operationally unacceptable. We were nowhere near a 30 KT component. We were comfortable with the decision to take off, but felt awkward with others not going.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 CREW TOOK OFF WITH HVY XWINDS.

Narrative: #3 FOR DEP ON RWY 4 AT LGA. TWR RPTED WINDS 330 DEGS AT 17 KTS GUST TO 34 KTS. A DEPARTING ACR DC9 DECLINED A TKOF CLRNC BECAUSE OF THE PREVIOUSLY STATED WINDS. SEVERAL OTHER ACFT ALSO DECLINED RWY 4. THE FO AND I CHKED THE MD82 XWIND LIMITATIONS AND REFERRED TO THE XWIND COMPONENT CHART. WE AGREED THAT OUR STEADY WIND COMPONENT WAS 14 KTS AND THE GUST COMPONENT WAS 28 KTS. THE RWY WAS DRY, MAX PWR WAS USED AND THE WX WAS CLR AND 10 MI. THE MD80 LIMITATIONS IN THE FCOM STATES THAT THERE IS NO XWIND LIMITATION. IT GOES ON TO SAY THAT A COMPONENT NEAR 30 KTS 'WITH' (KEY WORD) HIGHER GUSTS 'SHOULD' BE CONSIDERED OPERATIONALLY UNACCEPTABLE. WE WERE NOWHERE NEAR A 30 KT COMPONENT. WE WERE COMFORTABLE WITH THE DECISION TO TAKE OFF, BUT FELT AWKWARD WITH OTHERS NOT GOING.

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.