What happened
On 22 December 2015, an ATR 72-212 A, registration EI-REM, was conducting a scheduled passenger flight from Birmingham to Ronaldsway Airport, Isle of Man. The flight was carrying 66 passengers and 4 crew members. During the landing phase, the co-pilot, who was undergoing line training under the supervision of a Line Training Captain, was acting as the handling pilot.
While the approach was stable and conducted in good weather, the co-pilot initiated the flare slightly too early and at a higher pitch attitude than necessary. This caused the aircraft to fly level just above the runway surface before descending. The main landing gear made contact with the runway with a light skip. During the touchdown, an observer near the runway noted sparks emanating from beneath the rear fuselage and notified Air Traffic Control, who subsequently alerted the crew.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of the landing flare and the resulting contact between the aircraft and the runway. The crew reported that the captain provided steadying inputs on the control column to prevent a large forward input that might have caused the nose gear to strike the ground first. Following the incident, the aircraft was inspected for structural or mechanical damage.
Findings
- The co-pilot flared the aircraft too early and with an excessive pitch attitude.
- The tail bumper, located on the underside of the rear fuselage, experienced light abrasion damage due to contact with the runway.
- There were no injuries to the 66 passengers or 4 crew members.
- The damage was superficial, and no maintenance intervention was required for the aircraft to remain in service.