What happened
On November 30, 2000, a Futura B737-800, registration EC-HMK, was completing a scheduled passenger flight from Lanzarote, Spain, to Shannon Airport, Ireland. The flight, carrying 189 passengers and 13 infants, encountered significant weather challenges during its approach to Runway 2 and 4. Prevailing conditions included rain, strong winds, and turbulence, with recent gusts recorded at 42 knots.
As the aircraft approached the runway, the flight crew experienced a sudden loss of altitude, which they attributed to a heavy downdraft or sudden wind shift. The aircraft impacted the runway with a high rate of sink, bounced, and subsequently struck the ground with the nose gear first. This impact caused the nose landing gear to collapse rearwards, resulting in the aircraft sliding for approximately 8,600 feet. During the sequence, several overhead bins opened, and the aircraft sustained extensive damage, including engine damage from foreign object debris (FOD). The crew initiated an emergency evacuation using the right-hand side exit slides to avoid the heavy winds blowing from the left.
The investigation
The AAIU investigation examined the flight data, aircraft maintenance records, and crew testimonies. Investigators analyzed the aircraft's flight path, noting that while the approach was initially stable, the aircraft triggered "glideslope" and "sink rate" warnings shortly before touchdown. The investigation also reviewed the operational procedures of the operator regarding crosswind limitations and the use of automated systems during manual flight.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was an excessive control column forward input, which created a negative pitch attitude and led to the high-impact loading that severed the nose wheels and collapsed the gear strut.
- The approach became unstabilized due to a combination of wind gusts, turbulence, and the continued use of the autothrottle during manual flight, which contradicted manufacturer recommendations.
- The aircraft's nose gear assembly suffered catastrophic failure, with the drag strut fracturing and the nose wheels being severed.
- Eight passengers sustained minor injuries and were treated in a hospital.
- The decision to evacuate via the right-hand side doors was a critical factor in preventing further injuries, as it protected passengers from the high winds and the risk of sliding off the wings.
Safety action
Following the investigation, safety recommendations were issued to the operator to:
- Establish and publish specific maximum crosswind limitations for their B777-800 fleet.
- Review flight training programs to reinforce the importance of the stabilized approach concept and the necessity of executing a missed approach if an approach becomes destabilized.