In Service Feedback – Abnormal Runway contact

Sébastien SELLEM

Flight Safety Director - Accident/incident Investigator

During the second approach, the aircraft encountered an abnormal runway contact.

The chapters 1 to 4 are factual elements from the published report.

Chapter 5 to 6 are the ATR additional comments.

Event date : 30 December 2023	Time : 09:30 UTC
Place : Belfast City Airport	Aircraft : ATR 72-600

The aircraft was operating a scheduled flight from Edinburgh Airport to Belfast City Airport (EGAC). The weather was reported to be gusty.
The first approach was discontinued due to destabilizing wind effects approaching Decision Height.
The second approach was reportedly uneventful until the aircraft was flared for landing. During the flare, wind effects destabilized the aircraft resulting in it touching down firmly on the left main landing gear and then bounced before touching down heavily a second time, nose landing gear first. The commander initiated a go-around and the aircraft subsequently diverted to Belfast Aldergrove Airport for an uneventful landing.

GPS track

Belfast City airport – EGAC

METAR EGAC 300920Z AUTO 12018G29KT 4500 RA BKN012/OVC020/CB 06/05 Q0992

The weather report for Belfast city airport at 09:20 UTC was wind 120°/18 kt Gust 29kt, visibility 4500 m, rain, cloud Broken at 1200 ft, Overcast at 2000 ft cumulonimbus and temperature 6°C and dewpoint 5°C, QNH 992

METAR EGAC 300950Z AUTO 12023G35KT 2700 +RA OVC008/CB 06/05 Q0991

The weather report for Belfast city airport at 09:50 UTC was wind 120°/23 kt Gust 35kt, visibility 2700 m, heavy rain, cloud Overcast at 800 ft cumulonimbus and temperature 6°C and dewpoint 5°C, QNH 991

RUNWAY IN USE 22 at Belfast City airport.

Belfast International airport – EGAA (alternate airport)

METAR EGAA 300950Z 13021G31KT 4000 RA SCT015 BKN030 06/05 Q0989

The weather report for Belfast international airport at 09:50 UTC was wind 130°/21 kt Gust 31kt, visibility 4000 m, rain, cloud Scattered at 1500 ft, Broken at 3000 ft and temperature 6°C and dewpoint 5°C, QNH 989

Belfast City Airport’s listing in the UK Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) contains the following warning to pilots.

Following the abnormal runway contact (second approach), the left main landing gear and the nose landing gear had both experienced loads beyond their allowable limits and required replacement before the aircraft could be returned into service.

Both approaches into Belfast City Airport were stabilized at 1,000 ft and crew cooperation appeared to be working well.

For the second approach, the last wind report from ATC was 140/22, which was inside the 28 kt recommended maximum crosswind value for the reported wet runway conditions.
Below 500 ft QNH on the approach the recorded IAS had been generally fluctuating of the target VAPP of 120 kt. As the aircraft descended through approximately 70 ft QNH the speed briefly became more unstable as the aircraft approached the flare.
The automatic altitude callouts progressed as expected down to 20 ft, but shortly after, it became apparent that the touchdown was not as expected, and the commander initiated a go-around.

Respect the final approach speed – Vapp (FCOM.LIM.3.4 Landing speed)
Approaches must be stabilized and remain stable to touchdown
FCTM – Stabilization policy

Note: Version 2022 changed the stabilization criteria for the VAPP.

FCTM 600 Edition 2022 (atractive.com)

Bounced:
Bouncing at landing usually is the result of high energy approach. In-service experience shows that most of the events involving bounces at landing resulted from the following factors:
– Excessive airspeed during approach
– Engine power on touchdown
– Late flare initiation
– Incorrect flare technique
Some environmental factors could also contribute to experience bounce at landing, such as:
– Windshear
– Thermal activity
For further information: FCTM 600 Edition 2022 (atractive.com)

BE prepared for a GO-AROUND
– Review the main task sharing (PM & PF) in a short briefing.
– Identify the Threat(s) on this specific approach. (Complex trajectory, congested airport, …)

Refer to previously published material available on the ATR Flight Safety website