What happened
On 22 July 2008, a Kelowna Flightcraft Air Charter Ltd. Boeing 727-227, registered C-GLKF, was conducting a cargo flight from Moncton, New Brunswick, to Hamilton, Ontario. While approaching Runway 06 at Hamilton Airport during thunderstorm activity, the aircraft experienced a hard touchdown followed by a vertical bounce.
Following the second impact, the crew decided to initiate a go-around. During the subsequent rotation, the aircraft's tailskid made contact with the runway. Additionally, the number 2 engine tailpipe and the thrust reverser actuator fairing struck the ground beyond the runway departure end. The aircraft was able to climb away and subsequently completed a normal landing on Runway 12. There were no injuries, though the aircraft sustained minor damage.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight crew's experience, the aircraft's configuration, and the environmental conditions. The crew, consisting of three members, was operating within regulatory requirements for rest. The pilot flying was a first officer with relatively limited experience on this specific aircraft type.
Investigators analyzed flight data which showed high vertical acceleration during both the initial and second touchdowns. The investigation also focused on the aircraft's configuration during the go-around. It was determined that the spoilers remained deployed during the climb, which created excessive drag. The investigation noted that the crew had not previously practiced go-around procedures following a bounced landing in a simulator, nor had they practiced the specific maneuver of a go-around after touchdown. Furthermore, the investigation was hindered by the fact that the cockpit voice recorder data for the period of the go-around had been overwritten.
Findings
- The primary cause of the ground contact was that the go-around was initiated with the spoilers deployed, creating enough drag to prevent a safe lift-off.
- The crew did not retract the speedbrakes because they had not received specific training for bounced landing recoveries or go-arounds following a touchdown.
- High workload and stress during the maneuver, combined with the transfer of control, contributed to the crew failing to recognize the take-off configuration warning horn or the need to stow the spoilers.