Incident Overview

Date: Tuesday 14 February 2012
Aircraft Type: Airbus A319-111
Owner/operator: easyJet
Registration Number: G-EZFV
Location: London-Luton Airport (LTN) – ÿ United Kingdom
Phase of Flight: Landing
Status: Minor, repaired
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 148
Component Affected: Autopilot, Flight Control System, and Control Surfaces (specifically, the flight control system and the autopilot)Autopilot, Flight Control System, and Control Surfaces (specifically, the flight control system and the autopilot)
Investigating Agency: AAIBAAIB
Category: Accident
An Airbus A319-111 passenger plane experienced a landing accident at London-Luton Airport (LTN) on a scheduled flight from Faro Airport (FAO) to London-Luton Airport. The flight was operated by a captain-under-training (CT) and a training captain, with the CT occupying the left seat. The aircraft was given an early radar vector towards the final approach track to runway 26. The CT initiated a descent rate increase, including flap 2 and landing gear down, to prepare for the glidepath. However, the CT inadvertently activated the EXPED pushbutton, triggering a rapid climb and subsequent disconnection of the autopilot. The aircraft then proceeded to maintain the approach, and, after a brief period of instability, the CT initiated a TOGA 10 go-around. The CT relinquished control and returned to the Normal Flight Pattern (NFP) after the go-around. The commander remained as the CT, completed the go-around, and executed a firm landing with minimal turbulence.An Airbus A319-111 passenger plane experienced a landing accident at London-Luton Airport (LTN) on a scheduled flight from Faro Airport (FAO) to London-Luton Airport. The flight was operated by a captain-under-training (CT) and a training captain, with the CT occupying the left seat. The aircraft was given an early radar vector towards the final approach track to runway 26. The CT initiated a descent rate increase, including flap 2 and landing gear down, to prepare for the glidepath. However, the CT inadvertently activated the EXPED pushbutton, triggering a rapid climb and subsequent disconnection of the autopilot. The aircraft then proceeded to maintain the approach, and, after a brief period of instability, the CT initiated a TOGA 10 go-around. The CT relinquished control and returned to the Normal Flight Pattern (NFP) after the go-around. The commander remained as the CT, completed the go-around, and executed a firm landing with minimal turbulence.

Description

An Airbus A319-111 passenger plane was involved in a landing accident at London-Luton Airport (LTN), United Kingdom. There were no injuries among the 142 passengers and six crew members. The aircraft was on a scheduled flight to London-Luton Airport (LTN), from Faro Airport (FAO) Portugal. The pilot flying (PF) was a captain-under-training, occupying the left seat; the right seat was occupied by a training captain, who was the commander of the aircraft. The aircraft was given an early radar vector towards the final approach track to runway 26 and the PF increased the rate of descent to close the correct descent profile from above. The aircraft was then allocated a heading of 220øM, cleared to intercept the localiser and, once established, to descend on the glidepath. The PF realised that the aircraft would be high and configured the aircraft with flap 2 and the landing gear down, to capture the 3ø glideslope from above. He armed the localiser mode and then attempted to arm the approach mode but inadvertently selected the EXPED pushbutton. The expedite climb mode engaged but, to prevent a climb or any mode confusion and to regain the correct profile, the PF disconnected the autopilot and the autothrust. The aircraft passed through the localiser and ATC issued a revised heading to enable the aircraft to intercept from the south. The PF decided to continue flying the approach manually and the aircraft was established on the localiser at 5.5 nm. It was configured for landing, with full flap, at 5 nm. Landing clearance was issued, with a reported surface wind of 320ø/15 kt. A subsequent wind check of 320ø/16 kt was broadcast three minutes before touchdown. The wind conditions were gusty and gave rise to some turbulence on the approach. Stabilised approach criteria were met at 1,000 ft and 500 ft radio altitude (RA). The VAPP (final approach) speed was 129 kt and at 50 ft RA the approach remained stable. Just below 50 ft there was a small nose-up pitch input followed by two nose-down inputs and, below 50 ft, the flight data indicated an increasing rate of descent from about 600 fpm to about 850 fpm. The data also showed that, below 100 ft RA, there were some left and right roll control inputs. Below 30 ft, over the runway, both pilots sensed that the aircraft was sinking rapidly and both initiated a TOGA 10 go-around. The PF momentarily retarded the thrust levers to idle before advancing them to the TOGA (Takeoff and Go-around) position. At the same time, he made a full forward sidestick input, within one second, which was then rapidly reversed to full aft sidestick. As the PF made the forward sidestick input, the commander initiated an aft sidestick input which reached the full aft position within one second. He followed through the PF, pushing the thrust levers fully forward and announced “I HAVE CONTROL”. The aircraft made firm contact with the runway at 2.99g and a 12.5 ft/sec rate of descent. It touched down on all three landing gear legs simultaneously, before lifting off and starting to climb. During this phase the PF relinquished control and reverted to the PNF role. The commander remained as the PF, completed the go-around and subsequently carried out an uneventful landing on the same runway. There were no reported injuries. CONCLUSION: “Both pilots responded to an increased rate of descent approaching touchdown and each initiated a TOGA 10 go-around. Their initial sidestick inputs were in opposition and, without the use of the takeover sidestick pushbutton, the net effect was a pitch-down control input. If the commander had operated the sidestick takeover pushbutton, his nose-up pitch input would not have been counteracted by the nose-down input of the Capt U/T. In the event, his control input reduced the effect of the nose-down input made by the Capt U/T.”

Primary Cause

Accidental activation of the EXPED pushbutton during a complex flight control sequence, resulting in a rapid climb and loss of control.Accidental activation of the EXPED pushbutton during a complex flight control sequence, resulting in a rapid climb and loss of control.

Share on:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *