What happened
On October 8, 2021, an Airbus A320-214, registration N742AV, was performing a validation flight of RNP-AR procedures at Perales Airport (SKIB) in Ibagué, Colombia. The aircraft, operated by Avianca, was carrying 12 crew members and three officials from the Civil Aviation Authority, but no passengers.
During the second segment of the validation flight, the crew was executing a go-around from runway 32. As the aircraft transitioned from the approach to the missed approach, it experienced a severe and abnormal contact with the runway surface. The impact generated a vertical load factor of 4.93G, causing substantial damage to the aircraft's landing gear. Despite the structural damage, the crew managed to maintain control and continued the flight with a positive climb, eventually landing safely at El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá without declaring an emergency.
The investigation
The Colombian investigation authority (DIACC) examined the flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) to reconstruct the sequence of events. The investigation focused on the flight profile during the RNP-AR approach and the specific maneuvers performed during the go-around. Investigators analyzed the aircraft's automation use, specifically the use of the autopilot at low altitudes, and reviewed the operational procedures used for the RNP validation flight. The investigation also looked into the technical aspects of the aircraft's flight control laws, which reverted to 'alternate law' following the impact.