What happened
On February 18, 2011, a Fairchild Swearingen SA226-AT, registered JA8828, was conducting a test flight at Yao Airport, Japan. The flight, operated by Showa Aviation Co., Ltd., included a captain, a co-pilot, and two passengers. After departing Yao Airport for a route over Kobe and Osaka, the aircraft returned to the airport for landing on runway 27.
During the final approach, the aircraft encountered turbulent conditions. As the aircraft passed the runway threshold, it experienced a significant dip. The captain attempted to correct the situation by adding power and pulling the control wheel, but the aircraft subsequently made a violent touchdown on its left main landing gear. While the crew did not immediately realize the severity of the impact, a post-flight inspection revealed substantial damage to the airframe, including a deformed left engine nacelle, a cracked left main landing gear strut, and cracks in the right side fuselage skin.
The investigation
The JTSB investigation focused on the meteorological conditions and the flight maneuvers leading to the impact. Investigators analyzed air traffic control records, which showed that wind conditions were fluctuating significantly. Specifically, the wind direction shifted from approximately 330° to 020°, introducing a tailwind component during the landing phase.
Technical examinations of the aircraft revealed that the left-hand engine nacelle structure and the main landing gear well stringer were deformed. The investigation also reviewed the flight crew's actions, noting that the approach was conducted at a steep 4.5° angle, as indicated by the PAPI, which resulted in a higher rate of descent than standard procedures.