Incident Overview

Date: Sunday 24 November 2013
Aircraft Type: McDonnell Douglas MD-11F
Owner/operator: Lufthansa Cargo
Registration Number: D-ALCE
Location: S?o Paulo/Campinas-Viracopos International Airport, SP (VCP) – ÿ Brazil
Phase of Flight: Landing
Status: Substantial, repaired
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3
Component Affected: Aircraft Control System (specifically, the autopilot and flight control system) and the aircraft’s stability.Aircraft Control System (specifically, the autopilot and flight control system) and the aircraft’s stability.
Category: Incident
A Lufthansa Cargo McDonnell Douglas MD-11, registration D-ALCE, experienced a significant landing accident at S?o Paulo/Campinas-Viracopos International Airport, Brazil. The aircraft began a routine flight with a controlled descent, reaching cruising altitude and commencing the approach. A brief period of high altitude was observed, followed by a controlled descent to 4500 feet. The crew initiated the final approach, including ILS for runway 15, and subsequently transitioned to landing. Following the landing, the aircraft experienced a series of unusual maneuvers, culminating in a stall warning and subsequent loss of control, leading to a tail strike. The pilot in command initiated a maneuver to regain control, resulting in the aircraft’s instability and subsequent loss of power. The incident concluded with a safe landing at 08:30, with the aircraft exhibiting a tail strike.A Lufthansa Cargo McDonnell Douglas MD-11, registration D-ALCE, experienced a significant landing accident at S?o Paulo/Campinas-Viracopos International Airport, Brazil. The aircraft began a routine flight with a controlled descent, reaching cruising altitude and commencing the approach. A brief period of high altitude was observed, followed by a controlled descent to 4500 feet. The crew initiated the final approach, including ILS for runway 15, and subsequently transitioned to landing. Following the landing, the aircraft experienced a series of unusual maneuvers, culminating in a stall warning and subsequent loss of control, leading to a tail strike. The pilot in command initiated a maneuver to regain control, resulting in the aircraft’s instability and subsequent loss of power. The incident concluded with a safe landing at 08:30, with the aircraft exhibiting a tail strike.

Description

A Lufthansa Cargo McDonnell Douglas MD-11 cargo plane, registration D-ALCE was damaged in a landing accident at S?o Paulo/Campinas-Viracopos International Airport, SP (VCP), Brazil. The airplane operated flight LH-8258 from Frankfurt, Germany to Curitiba, Brazil, with en route stops at Dakar, Senegal and Viracopos Airport. The flight departed Dakar at 03:57 local time and climbed to the cruising altitude of FL320. At 07:50 local time the MD-11 began a continuous descent towards S?o Paulo. The flight was eventually cleared down to 4500 feet and at 08:03 the crew commenced working the approach checklist. The copilot then commented that they were a little high, at 6200 feet amsl. The pilot in command replied that they would be fine during the next procedural turn. Two minutes later the airplane turned onto the final approach course for runway 15. The copilot radioed that the flight was established on the ILS for runway 15. The crew then configured the airplane for landing. After contacting Campinas Tower, the flight received clearance to land with the wind at 140 degrees, 14 knots. At 08:07, shortly after selecting flaps at 35 degrees, the pilot in command switched off the autopilot. Flaps were set at 50 degrees and the crew then worked the landing checklist. The approach was continued and the airplane touched down at 08:08 at a speed of 152 kts Calibrated Airspeed (CAS) and a 7ø pitch angle. Three seconds later both pilots called for a go around because they felt the airplane had bounced. The pitch angle decreased to 6ø and then increased to 12ø. At that moment, the thrust reversers of all three engines deployed. Flight deck indications showed they were deployed for about one second before they were commanded to be stowed again. The pilot in command ordered the flaps to be raised to 28ø and stated to the copilot that the engine power was not increasing. By then the pitch angle had dropped to 3ø. Eleven seconds later the pilot in command ordered stabilizer trim. At that time the speed began to rise again from the lowest recorded value of 118 knots. The pitch angle increased again to 12ø and then further to 15ø. The airplane became airborne again at a speed of 144 knots, 28 seconds after touching down. The stall warning then sounded during four seconds. The airplane climbed away and was positioned for landing. A safe landing was carried out at 08:30. After landing it appeared that the MD-11 had suffered a tail strike. The pilot in command reported that the power levers were stuck as he attempted to advance them for a go around. Using a ‘massive’ force he was able to advance the throttles. CENIPA Brazil decided not to issue a final report on this incident.

Primary Cause

Pilot error and a combination of factors, including a brief period of high altitude, a misjudgment of the approach, and a subsequent loss of control due to the aircraft’s instability.Pilot error and a combination of factors, including a brief period of high altitude, a misjudgment of the approach, and a subsequent loss of control due to the aircraft’s instability.

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