What happened
On September 20, 2014, Mandarin Airlines flight AE 964, an ERJ-190 with registration B-16821, was operating a scheduled passenger flight from Zheng Zhou to Taichung International Airport. The flight carried 73 passengers and 6 crew members. During the approach, the aircraft encountered heavy rain and thunderstorm activity. Although automated weather systems indicated the Runway Visual Range (RVR) had dropped to 550 meters, this information was not communicated to the flight crew by the tower controller.
As the aircraft descended, the pilot flying disengaged the autopilot at approximately 50 feet altitude. During the flare, the aircraft began to deviate to the right of the runway centerline. The aircraft experienced a light bounce upon touchdown and continued to veer toward the downwind side of the runway. At 2128:51 Taipei time, the nose gear touched down, and the right main gear subsequently veered off the runway edge. During the landing roll, the number 1 engine experienced a flame-out, likely due to water ingestion. The aircraft eventually came to a stop at 3,230 feet from the threshold. The excursion caused damage to the aircraft's engine cowling and right main tire, as well as one runway edge light and a runway sign.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight data from the Digital Voice Data Recorder (DVDR), the aircraft's maintenance history, and the meteorological and air traffic control procedures at Taichung International Airport. Investigators analyzed the runway's drainage performance, the positioning of runway lighting, and the communication protocols between the tower and the flight crew. The investigation also reviewed the engine's performance following the flame-out and inspected the runway environment, including manhole covers near the runway edge.
Findings
- The flight crew failed to initiate a go-around despite the presence of heavy rain, low visibility, and standing water on the runway.
- The flight crew's crosswind correction during the flare was insufficient or incorrectly applied, causing the aircraft to drift off the runway.
- The late disengagement of the autopilot at 50 feet altitude hindered the crew's ability to execute effective crosswind maneuvers.
- The tower controller did not provide updated RVR information or notify the crew of the wet runway conditions.
- The runway's drainage performance was inadequate, leading to standing water, and the runway edge lights were not sufficient for the runway's width.
- The number 1 engine flame-out was most likely caused by water ingestion through the nose gear area.
Safety action
Mandarin Airlines has since enhanced its flight crew training regarding rejected landings (go-arounds) in scenarios involving a sudden loss of visual cues. The airline also implemented additional training for engine failures on wet or contaminated runways. Additionally, the Air Force Command Headquarters and the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) have worked to improve meteorological report dissemination, inspect runway drainage, and evaluate the installation of runway centerline lights at Taichung International Airport.