Incident
On a routine flight from Moncton, New Brunswick, to Toronto/Lester B. Pearson International Airport, Ontario, Air Canada Jazz Flight 8911, a Bombardier CL-600-2B19 (registration C-FRIL, serial number 7051), was operating with 3 crew and 37 passengers. At 1235 eastern daylight time, the aircraft landed on Runway 06R in gusty crosswind conditions. The wind was from the left at 90° to the runway, gusting from 13 to 23 knots.
Approach and Landing
The approach was uneventful, with the autopilot engaged and a stabilized approach. The first officer was the pilot flying. During the descent, the captain made non-operational comments and took photographs of the Air France 358 accident site on Runway 24L, diverting his attention. At 0.4 nm from the threshold at 700 feet asl, he put away the camera. The autopilot was disengaged between 30 and 40 feet agl, below the required minimum of 80 feet. The flare began at about 30 feet agl. Thrust levers were reduced to about 55% N1 at 5 feet agl, rather than idle at 50 feet (idle N1 is 25%). The aircraft contacted the runway about four seconds after autopilot disengagement, in a left-wing-down sideslip on a heading of 051° (runway heading 057°). The left main landing gear touched first, then the aircraft rolled right, and the right main gear touched. The initial ground contact lasted about 0.5 seconds, with lateral load 0.3 G and vertical load 1.4 G. The digital flight data recorder did not record weight-on-wheels signals. The aircraft bounced to about 10 feet agl.
Ground Lift Dump System
The aircraft's ground lift dump (GLD) system did not activate during the first touchdown because the thrust levers were not at idle (N1 ~55%). However, the condition of radio altitude <5 feet agl and wheel speed >16 knots was latched for 4 seconds. After the bounce, at 8-10 feet agl, the thrust levers were fully retarded to idle, meeting the primary condition. The flight and ground spoilers deployed (the spoilerons did not because weight-on-wheels was not satisfied). The loss of lift caused rapid descent; the aircraft struck the runway at a sink rate of about 20 feet per second (certification standard 10 ft/s). Both main landing gear trunnion fittings failed within 0.25 seconds, collapsing the gear. The gear folded rearward without puncturing fuel tanks. The aircraft slid straight down the runway, wings level, and the crew steered onto taxiway Delta 3, unaware of the gear collapse.
Post-Landing Events
After stopping, the pilots suspected flat tires. The flight attendant reported a couple of oxygen masks had deployed, causing a burning odour from oxygen generators. Numerous aural warnings activated. The captain exited the aircraft to inspect damage and observed the collapsed gear, then ordered rapid disembarkation. Passengers deplaned via the passenger door; some took personal items despite instructions. No fire occurred. Crew were uninjured; some passengers reported minor injuries from the hard landing.