What happened
On 14 March 2015, a Malaysia Airlines Airbus A330-323, registered 9M-MTA, was conducting a scheduled passenger flight from Kuala Lumpur to Melbourne. During the final approach to runway 34 at Melbourne Airport, the pilot flying disengaged the autopilot at approximately 700 feet above the ground. Following this, the aircraft's flight path became erratic due to frequent and significant pitch control inputs.
As the aircraft descended, it drifted below the intended glide path, eventually reaching a state where the PAPI lights indicated a much lower altitude than required. At roughly 60 feet, the captain attempted to arrest the sink rate by momentarily advancing the thrust levers to the takeoff/go-around detent. This action inadvertently disengaged the autothrottle and altered the aircraft's automation modes. The aircraft subsequently touched down with a high vertical speed, approximately 170 meters short of the intended touchdown zone. The impact was severe enough that the aircraft's main landing gear required replacement, though there were no injuries to the crew or passengers.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the stability of the approach and the crew's decision-making. Investigators analyzed flight data which revealed that the approach had become unstable at 300 feet due to excessive control inputs and fluctuating descent rates. The investigation also examined the crew's failure to follow established company procedures, which mandated a go-around if the approach became unstable below 500 feet. Furthermore, the investigators looked into the captain's use of a manual thrust technique that was no longer an approved procedure for the A330 at the time of the event.
Findings
- The final approach transitioned into an unstable state at approximately 300 feet AGL due to the pilot flying's control inputs.
- There was a failure in crew monitoring and communication, which prevented the timely recognition of the unstable approach and the decision to initiate a go-around.
- The continuation of the unstable approach directly resulted in a high rate of descent and a hard landing that exceeded the design limits of the landing gear.
- The captain utilized an unapproved manual thrust method in an attempt to recover the aircraft's flight path.