What happened
On February 1, 2021, a Boeing 747-8F, registration JA13KZ, operated by Nippon Cargo Airlines Co., Ltd., was performing a landing at Narita International Airport on Runway 1sR. During the final approach, the aircraft experienced significant wind changes, with crosswind components increasing to 22 knots.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft experienced a bounce. The pilot in command (PIC) attempted to execute a go-around to escape what was perceived as a hard landing and unstable flight conditions. During this maneuver, the aircraft's pitch angle increased significantly while the airspeed remained insufficient for a safe climb. This resulted in the lower aft fuselage making contact with the runway, causing structural damage to the airframe. There were two crew members on board, and no injuries were reported.
The investigation
The Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB) analyzed data from the Flight Data Recorder (FDR), Quick Access Recorder (QAR), and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), alongside air traffic control communications. The investigation focused on the sequence of events from the moment the autopilot was disengaged to the moment the aircraft became airborne again. Investigators examined the aircraft's flight path, the impact of wind shear and crosswinds, and the crew's manual control inputs during the transition from landing to go-around.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced a bounce during touchdown, which was likely due to an inability to adequately compensate for the crosswind conditions.
- The tail strike was caused by an excessive nose-up pitch attitude combined with inadequate airspeed during the go-around.
- The pilot's decision to initiate the go-around was influenced by anxiety regarding the remaining runway distance and the aircraft's unstable attitude.
- The use of reverse thrust immediately after touchdown delayed the necessary increase in engine thrust, as the thrust reverser translating cowlings were still deploying.
- The pilot's focus on maintaining the aircraft's direction and escaping the wind shear led to a failure to monitor the aircraft's airspeed during the critical climb phase.