Incident Overview

Date: Sunday 17 July 2011
Aircraft Type: ATR 72-212
Owner/operator: Aer Arann, lsf Air Contractors
Registration Number: EI-SLM
Location: Shannon Airport (SNN) – ÿ Ireland
Phase of Flight: Landing
Status: Substantial, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 25
Component Affected: Aircraft Control System (specifically Pitch Control)Aircraft Control System (specifically Pitch Control)
Investigating Agency: AAIUAAIU
Category: Accident
An ATR-72 passenger plane experienced a serious landing accident at Shannon Airport, Ireland, resulting in significant damage and a loss of control. The aircraft, EI-SLM, made a round-trip flight from Shannon to Manchester Airport, carrying 21 passengers and five crew members. The flight was cleared to land on Runway 24 using an Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach, but encountered challenging conditions due to strong crosswinds. The aircraft experienced a turbulent approach and subsequent landing, resulting in nose-down attitude and a significant impact with the runway. The nose gear collapsed, and the aircraft descended onto the runway, causing damage to directional control and leading to a rest at the intersection of the runway and a taxiway. The incident was characterized by excessive approach speed in turbulent crosswinds, potentially exacerbated by inadequate pilot control and insufficient training.An ATR-72 passenger plane experienced a serious landing accident at Shannon Airport, Ireland, resulting in significant damage and a loss of control. The aircraft, EI-SLM, made a round-trip flight from Shannon to Manchester Airport, carrying 21 passengers and five crew members. The flight was cleared to land on Runway 24 using an Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach, but encountered challenging conditions due to strong crosswinds. The aircraft experienced a turbulent approach and subsequent landing, resulting in nose-down attitude and a significant impact with the runway. The nose gear collapsed, and the aircraft descended onto the runway, causing damage to directional control and leading to a rest at the intersection of the runway and a taxiway. The incident was characterized by excessive approach speed in turbulent crosswinds, potentially exacerbated by inadequate pilot control and insufficient training.

Description

An ATR-72 passenger plane, EI-SLM, sustained substantial damage in a landing accident at Shannon Airport (SNN), Ireland. There were 21 passengers and five crew members on board. No one was injured. The aircraft carried out a round trip from Shannon (SNN), Ireland to Manchester Airport (MAN), U.K. on behalf of Aer Lingus Regional. The return leg, Flight EI 6305, departed Manchester at 08:47. En-route operations were normal and, in consultation with ATC, the aircraft descended and was cleared to self-position to the DERAG waypoint for an Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach to runway 24. At 10:08 hrs the aircraft commenced an approach to runway 24 in strong and gusty crosswind conditions. Following a turbulent approach difficulty was experienced in landing the aircraft, which contacted the runway in a nose-down attitude and bounced. A go-around was performed and the aircraft was vectored for a second approach. During this second approach landing turbulence was again experienced. Following bounces the aircraft pitched nose down and contacted the runway heavily in a nose down attitude. The nose gear collapsed and the aircraft nose descended onto the runway. The aircraft sustained damage with directional control being lost. The aircraft came to rest at the junction of the runway and a taxiway. Following engine shutdown the forward cabin crew member advised the cockpit that there was no smoke and that the doors could be opened following which, an evacuation was commenced. PROBABLE CAUSE: 1. Excessive approach speed and inadequate control of aircraft pitch during a crosswind landing in very blustery conditions. CONTRIBUTORY FACTORS: 1. Confusing wording in the FCOM that led the crew to compute an excessive wind factor in the determination of Vapp. 2. Incorrect power handling technique while landing. 3. Inexperience of the pilot in command. 4. Inadequate information provided to flight crew regarding crosswind landing techniques.

Source of Information

http://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/AT72,_Shannon_Ireland,_2011_(RE_HF)http://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/AT72,_Shannon_Ireland,_2011_(RE_HF)

Primary Cause

Excessive approach speed and inadequate control of aircraft pitch during a crosswind landing in very blustery conditions.Excessive approach speed and inadequate control of aircraft pitch during a crosswind landing in very blustery conditions.

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