What happened
On March 6, 2022, a privately owned Socata TBM700, registered JA007Z, was conducting a flight training mission from Honda Airport to Yao Airport. During the landing phase on Runway 27, the aircraft encountered turbulence and localized wind fluctuations near the runway threshold.
As the pilot attempted to land, the aircraft touched down with an unusually high impact and immediately bounced into the air. While the pilot initially attempted to continue the landing, the aircraft underwent three subsequent bounces. During this sequence, the aircraft's attitude became unstable, prompting the pilot to execute a go-around. Upon the subsequent landing, a post-flight inspection revealed that the propeller blade tips had sustained approximately 3 cm of damage and several scratch marks were found on the runway surface.
The investigation
The Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB) examined the meteorological conditions, the pilot's recent flight experience, and the aircraft's mechanical state. Investigators analyzed wind data from multiple sensors on the airfield, noting significant differences in wind velocity and direction between the east and west sides of the runway caused by hangar interference.
The investigation also reviewed the pilot's recent training history, noting that the pilot had recently transitioned to the Socata TBM700 and had been frequently operating larger aircraft, such as the Airbus A320, which utilize a different standard approach angle (3°) compared to the 4.5° angle required at Yao Airport. The investigation also considered the impact of twilight visibility on the pilot's ability to perceive the aircraft's pitch attitude during the bouncing sequence.
Findings
- Wind Effects: Localized changes in wind velocity and direction, caused by buildings near the runway, likely led to a reduction in lift and a rapid descent rate just before touchdown.
- Pilot Operations: The pilot's recent experience with larger aircraft may have influenced the timing of the flare. The investigation suggests the flare was likely delayed, preventing the establishment of a proper touchdown attitude.
- Visual Perception: The transition to twilight conditions made it difficult for the pilot to accurately judge the aircraft's height and pitch relative to the runway.
- Decision Making: The pilot continued the landing attempt after the initial bounce because the aircraft's attitude appeared stable, failing to recognize that the aircraft had actually settled into a nose-low attitude.
Safety action
- Pilots should execute an immediate go-around without hesitation if a significant bounce occurs following a high-impact touchdown where the descent rate cannot be effectively reduced.