What happened
On January 28, 2019, an ATR 72-2 and-A, registration EC-LYJ, was performing a commercial flight from Valencia to Palma de Mallorca with 61 passengers and a crew of four. During the landing on runway 24 L, the aircraft experienced a loss of control on the ground due to significant crosswind conditions.
As the aircraft touched down, the right side of the landing gear drifted off the paved surface. During the excursion, the aircraft struck a runway signage element marking taxiway S1. The aircraft eventually returned to the runway and taxied to the parking stand under its own power. While there were no injuries among the 65 people on board, the aircraft sustained substantial damage to the right side of the fuselage, including damage to a frame, the hydraulic system, and the landing gear.
The investigation
The CIAIAC investigation focused on the flight crew's execution of the landing and the communication preceding the event. Investigators examined the flight data recorder, cockpit voice recorder, and crew interviews. The investigation established that the approach was stabilized at 500 feet, but the landing technique used did not align with the manufacturer's published procedures.
Key findings included that the pilot flying did not apply the necessary aileron input into the wind during the initial stages of the landing roll. Additionally, the investigation noted that the pilot monitoring failed to provide required callouts, such as "LOW PITCH," and that the commander initially failed to move the power levers from flight idle to ground idle. The investigation also noted that the aircraft's flight manual did not clearly define the specific roles of each crew member during crosswind landings.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the loss of control on the ground because the crosswind landing maneuver was not performed in accordance with the manufacturer's published procedures.
- A lack of communication between the crew members during the approach briefing regarding specific crosswind landing techniques acted as a contributing factor.
- The crew experienced a startle effect due to the unexpected behavior of the aircraft—where the wind lifted the right wing—which led to instinctive, incorrect control inputs rather than following established procedures.