An MD80 encounters wake turbulence of a preceding A330 on approach to phl resulting in a go around.

Attributes
ACN	738748
Time
Date	200705
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : phl.airport
State Reference	PA
Altitude	agl single value : 500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : phl.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	landing : go around
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tower : phl.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A330
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 95 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 700
ASRS Report	738748
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : wake turbulence
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : executed go around
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Environmental Factor Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Environmental Factor

Narrative:

Below 500 ft AGL I experienced what I believed was wake turbulence from a preceding A330. During encounter; right wing dropped abruptly about 15 to 20 degrees; and aircraft drifted right of centerline; to a point where I determined we were out of position for a safe landing. The encounter was not violent; but it was uncomfortable; so I initiated a go around. First officer advised tower and we climbed out according to ATC instructions. We returned for an uneventful landing. Separation by ATC seemed adequate between our aircraft and the A330; and ATC did; in fact; advise us of the aircraft type (A330) and the 'heavy' designation. There was no indication of passenger injury or aircraft damage. I missed pressing the G/a button during the procedure; but the rest of the procedure was normal. Climb out was smooth and controled; and throttles were not advanced to full power. Passenger were informed of the situation on downwind.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD80 ENCOUNTERS WAKE TURB OF A PRECEDING A330 ON APCH TO PHL RESULTING IN A GAR.

Narrative: BELOW 500 FT AGL I EXPERIENCED WHAT I BELIEVED WAS WAKE TURB FROM A PRECEDING A330. DURING ENCOUNTER; R WING DROPPED ABRUPTLY ABOUT 15 TO 20 DEGS; AND ACFT DRIFTED R OF CTRLINE; TO A POINT WHERE I DETERMINED WE WERE OUT OF POSITION FOR A SAFE LNDG. THE ENCOUNTER WAS NOT VIOLENT; BUT IT WAS UNCOMFORTABLE; SO I INITIATED A GAR. FO ADVISED TWR AND WE CLBED OUT ACCORDING TO ATC INSTRUCTIONS. WE RETURNED FOR AN UNEVENTFUL LNDG. SEPARATION BY ATC SEEMED ADEQUATE BETWEEN OUR ACFT AND THE A330; AND ATC DID; IN FACT; ADVISE US OF THE ACFT TYPE (A330) AND THE 'HEAVY' DESIGNATION. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF PAX INJURY OR ACFT DAMAGE. I MISSED PRESSING THE G/A BUTTON DURING THE PROC; BUT THE REST OF THE PROC WAS NORMAL. CLB OUT WAS SMOOTH AND CTLED; AND THROTTLES WERE NOT ADVANCED TO FULL POWER. PAX WERE INFORMED OF THE SITUATION ON DOWNWIND.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.