What happened
On 16 June 2013, a Bombardier BD-700 private jet, registration M-YSAI, was performing a visual approach to Runway 21 at Seletar Airport. While the flight began under clear conditions, the weather deteriorated rapidly as the aircraft approached the airfield. Despite receiving information from air traffic control regarding severe low-level windshear and heavy rain, the flight crew continued the approach.
As the aircraft descended, the onboard systems triggered a windshear caution followed by a windshear warning. During the final stages of the landing flare, a strong crosswind gust pushed the aircraft toward the left side of the runway. The right main gear touched down on the paved surface, but the left main gear and nose gear landed on the grass verge. The impact caused damage to the aircraft's left flaps, landing gear door, and thrust reverser components, and two roadside signboards were struck. The pilot eventually managed to steer the aircraft back onto the pavement and taxi to the parking bay.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the crew's awareness of the deteriorating weather and their adherence to established flight procedures. Investigators examined the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, which revealed that while the air traffic controller had explicitly warned the crew of windshear, the pilot flying did not notice the visual cockpit alerts. The pilot monitoring heard the aural warning but did not initiate a go-around.
Technical reviews also looked into the aircraft's equipment and the operator's training programs. It was noted that the aircraft had not yet been updated with a specific service bulletin designed to provide automated windshear escape guidance. Furthermore, the operator's simulator training for pilots did not include specific windshear simulations.