Incident Overview

Date: Saturday 29 July 2023
Aircraft Type: Boeing 767-322ER (WL)
Owner/operator: United Airlines
Registration Number: N641UA
Location: Houston-George Bush Intercontinental Airport, TX (IAH/KIAH) – ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: Landing
Status: Substantial, repaired
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 202
Component Affected: The airplane’s control yoke and flight control system, specifically the pilot’s control inputs and the steering system, which were critical during the initial landing phase.The airplane’s control yoke and flight control system, specifically the pilot’s control inputs and the steering system, which were critical during the initial landing phase.
Investigating Agency: NTSBNTSB
Category: Accident
A United Airlines Boeing 767-322(ER) experienced a significant landing accident at Houston-George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) on UA702. The aircraft sustained substantial damage during landing, resulting in a second bounce and impact with the runway. The pilot, operating under the supervision of the captain, initiated corrective actions, including deploying speed brakes and thrust reversers, which led to the initial bounce and subsequent damage. The flight data recorder revealed a left-right rotation and a significant impact with the runway, indicating a complex sequence of events.A United Airlines Boeing 767-322(ER) experienced a significant landing accident at Houston-George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) on UA702. The aircraft sustained substantial damage during landing, resulting in a second bounce and impact with the runway. The pilot, operating under the supervision of the captain, initiated corrective actions, including deploying speed brakes and thrust reversers, which led to the initial bounce and subsequent damage. The flight data recorder revealed a left-right rotation and a significant impact with the runway, indicating a complex sequence of events.

Description

United Airlines flight UA702, a Boeing 767-322(ER), N641UA, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident while landing at Houston-George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), Texas. The 202 passengers and crew onboard were uninjured. The flight crew reported that the first officer (FO) was the pilot flying and the captain was the pilot monitoring. The departure from EWR and the cruise segment of the flight were uneventful. Upon arrival at IAH, they were cleared for the DOOBI2 arrival and the ILS 26L approach. According to the flight crew, the airplane was fully configured for landing, on speed and in compliance with the company?s stable approach criteria and the initial touchdown on the main wheels was normal. The FO stated that after the main landing gear touched down, he held aft pressure on the control yoke to keep the nose wheel from hitting the runway; however, the nose wheel made contact with abnormal force. The airplane appeared to bounce, and he reacted by pulling aft on the control yoke, in an effort to keep the nose wheel from impacting the runway a second time. Subsequently, the speed brakes deployed, and the auto brakes engaged which resulted in a second bounce of the nose wheel. He deployed the thrust reversers, and the airplane began to decelerate. The captain assumed control of the airplane and the remainder of the landing rollout was normal with no risk of runway overrun or excursion. A preliminary review of the flight data recorder (FDR) revealed that after the initial touchdown on both main wheels, the airplane rolled to the left and right main gear lifted off the runway?s surface. Subsequently, the nose wheel touched down with a gravitational force equivalent (g) of about 1.4 g and bounced. The speed brakes deployed, and the nose wheel impacted the runway a second time with a force of about 1.6 g followed by another bounce. The right thrust reverser (TR) deployed, and the nose wheel impacted the runway again with a force of about 1.6 g followed by the deployment of the left TR A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the crown of the upper fuselage. Probable Cause and Findings The first officer?s improper control inputs after the airplane touched down. Contributing to the severity of the damage was the flight crew?s lack of recognition that the speedbrakes were not armed, which led to their delayed deployment.

Source of Information

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n641ua#315a3eec, https://www.reddit.com/r/flying/comments/15ejmsv/rough_united_landing_at_iah_over_the_weekend/https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n641ua#315a3eec, https://www.reddit.com/r/flying/comments/15ejmsv/rough_united_landing_at_iah_over_the_weekend/

Primary Cause

Inadequate pilot control input after touchdown, leading to improper steering and subsequent impact with the runway.Inadequate pilot control input after touchdown, leading to improper steering and subsequent impact with the runway.

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