Introduction
On 10 December 2019, a Boeing 747-400 freighter aircraft, registered 9V-SFO and operated by Singapore Airlines, was involved in a serious incident at Auckland Airport, New Zealand. During a landing attempt, the flight crew executed a rejected landing and go-around, during which the leftmost engine struck the runway. The aircraft subsequently landed without further incident. No persons were injured.
History of the Flight
The aircraft was on a scheduled cargo flight from Sydney, Australia, to Auckland. The flight crew, consisting of a Pilot-in-Command (PIC) and First Officer, had rested for 48 hours prior. During the approach to Runway 05R, the PIC, who was pilot flying, disengaged the autopilot at approximately 2,400 feet and flew a manual ILS approach. There was a right crosswind of about six to seven knots, almost perpendicular to the runway. The PIC employed the 'touchdown-in-a-crab' technique, aiming to touch down slightly right of the runway centreline to maintain a safety margin from the left edge.
At about 0335 LT, the aircraft touched down. The speedbrakes deployed automatically, and the aircraft pitched up shortly after. The PIC stated he lost sight of the runway end lights, sensed a bounce, and felt the aircraft moving toward the right edge. He called for a go-around and applied left aileron while increasing throttles. The aircraft became airborne. The ATC observed sparks from the left wing and informed the crew. Data from the Flight Data Recorder indicated no bounce occurred.
Aircraft Damage
Post-flight inspection revealed gouge and tear damage to the fan cowl panel, thrust reverser panel, thrust reverser lower track fairing, and louvered exhaust door assembly on the No. 1 engine (leftmost). Two scrape marks, each about 1 m by 0.3 m, were found on the runway approximately 1,040 m from the threshold.
Personnel Information
The PIC, aged 63, held an Airline Transport Pilot Licence with 22,637 total flying hours, including 4,586 hours on type. The First Officer, aged 40, had 6,067 total hours, with 5,837 on type. Both were medically fit and had no duty in the previous 48 hours.
Meteorological and Aerodrome Conditions
Wind at the time was from the southeast at six to seven knots. Runway 05R was dry, with a landing distance available of 3,292 m and width of 45 m. The ILS and runway lighting were operating normally.
Investigation
The Transport Safety Investigation Bureau of Singapore classified the event as a serious incident. The investigation determined that the engine ground strike occurred because the PIC applied a left roll input after touchdown when the aircraft was not airborne, causing the left wing to drop and the No. 1 engine to contact the runway.