What happened
On January 30, 2015, an Embraer 170-200, registration SP-LII, experienced a hard landing while arriving at Warsaw Chopin Airport (EPWA) from Brussels. The event was identified through Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) systems, which recorded a vertical load factor of 2.07G. This value exceeded the aircraft's structural limits by 0.07G.
During the subsequent interview regarding the event, the flight crew reported that they did not perceive the landing as being outside of normal operating parameters.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the flight data recorded during the landing phase and the subsequent technical assessment of the aircraft. Investigators reviewed the telemetry that triggered the FDM alert and interviewed the crew to determine if the impact was noticeable during the touchdown.
Following the detection of the exceedance, the operator performed a phase one special inspection of the aircraft in accordance with the Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM). This inspection was conducted to ensure the structural integrity of the airframe and landing gear.
Findings
- The primary cause of the hard landing was delayed flare during the landing approach.
- The inspection of the aircraft revealed no damage resulting from the impact.