“Boeing told investigators looking into the incident that they were aware of a “long history of nuisance disconnects during takeoff mode engagements”.”
A TUI 737-800 with 163 passengers left Bristol with 260 metres of runway to spare and crossed the A38 at 100ft. The autothrottle dropped out at the start of the roll, and the crew set 84.5% N1 instead of the 92.8% required. Boeing already knew the autothrottle had a long history of disconnecting on takeoff. Boeing calls a known takeoff fault a “nuisance”. The AAIB calls it insufficient thrust.