What happened
On 3 November 2005, a Boeing 747-41R, registration G-VWOW, was conducting a scheduled passenger flight from New York to London Heathrow. During the approach to Runway 27R, the flight crew was managing significant weather conditions, including a forecast for heavy rain and strong winds. While the crew had prepared for a substantial left crosswind, the actual wind component dropped unexpectedly from 32 kt to 8 kt just before touchdown.
As the aircraft entered the flare, the commander attempted a 'de-crab' maneuver to align the aircraft with the runway centerline. During this high-workload phase, the pilot applied left control wheel input to maintain wings level. This input, potentially an overcompensation for the expected higher wind, resulted in a left bank angle that increased during the landing roll. As the aircraft decelerated to approximately 60 kt, the number 1 engine nacelle struck the runway surface.
The investigation
The AAIB investigation examined the aircraft's flight data recorders and the physical condition of the engine. Inspection of the G-VWOW revealed scraping and deformation on the underside of the number 1 engine pod, specifically affecting the inlet cowl, fan cowl doors, and the overboard drain mast. No significant damage was found to the engine itself, and no fluids were released.
The investigation also reviewed the cockpit environment and the pilot's experience. The commander was operating from the left-hand seat, a position in which he had limited experience on this type. The investigation noted that the combination of darkness, rain on the windscreen, and the pilot's concentration on rapidly deploying reverse thrust likely prevented the early detection of the increasing bank angle.
Findings
- The primary cause of the engine contact was a leftward roll excursion caused by excessive aileron input during the landing phase.
- A sudden reduction in the crosswind component just before touchdown contributed to the pilot's overcorrection.
- The pilot's focus on managing thrust reverser selection during a critical phase of flight hindered the recognition of the abnormal aircraft attitude.
- The commander's relative inexperience in the left-hand seat of this aircraft type may have impacted the perception of the aircraft's bank angle.