What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on null involved a aircraft, registration EI-DAI, at IE.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft rolled to 12 degrees left with an inappropriate pitch attitude during touchdown, compounded by the decision to continue an approach that required significant control inputs near the ground.

Engine Nacelle Scrapes Runway During Windy Dublin Landing

A Boeing 737-8AS sustained minor damage to its left engine nacelle after a heavy roll and nose-down pitch during touchdown at Dublin Airport.

What happened

On 19 November 2009, a scheduled passenger flight arriving from Rome's Ciampino airport experienced a difficult landing at Dublin Airport. The aircraft, a Boeing 737-8AS with registration EI-DAI, encountered blustery conditions with significant wind gusts. During the final stages of the approach, the aircraft's flight path became unstable, characterized by rapid rolling and significant rudder inputs.

As the aircraft descended toward the runway, the nose pitch dropped from a nose-up attitude to a nose-down attitude just seconds before contact. At the moment of touchdown, the aircraft rolled 12 degrees to the left. This sequence caused the left main gear to strike the surface first, followed by the nose gear, and finally the right main gear. During this movement, the left engine nacelle scraped the runway surface, resulting in minor damage. The crew was unaware that any contact had occurred, and the damage was only discovered later after a member of the public reported the incident.

The investigation

An investigation by the AAIU examined flight data recorder (FDR) information, meteorological reports, and maintenance records. The analysis revealed that while the wind speeds were within the operator's crosswind limits, the aircraft was performing intense maneuvering very close to the ground. The investigation also reviewed the aircraft's landing technique, noting that the touchdown sequence did not align with standard prescribed crosswind landing methods.

Furthermore, investigators looked into why the damage went undetected. They found that the subsequent crew's pre-flight inspections did not identify the scrape, partly because the underside of the engine nacelle is difficult to inspect without kneeling or using a mirror, and the existing checklist did not specifically mandate a check of that area.

Findings

The approach was conducted in gusty weather, but within established crosswind limits.
The aircraft experienced a significant nose-down pitch and a 12-degree left roll at the moment of touchdown.
The landing sequence was improper, with the left main gear hitting the runway before the nose gear.
The crew should have initiated a go-around due to the high level of maneuvering required to stabilize the aircraft near the ground.
The damage to the engine nacelle was not caught during subsequent pre-flight checks because the inspection checklist lacked specific instructions to check the lower surfaces of the nacelle.
Existing manufacturer charts for ground contact angles may be misleading, as they do not fully account for dynamic loads like wing flexing or tire compression that can cause structural contact even within published limits.