What happened
On 1 March 2001, a DHC-8-311, registration G-BRYO, was performing a scheduled public transport flight from Newquay to Plymouth. The flight was part of a multi-sector day, with the crew consisting of a commander, a first officer undergoing line training, and a second first officer occupying the jump seat.
During the approach to Runway 31, the first officer briefly lost visual contact with the runway, prompting the commander to temporarily take control. Once the runway was re-acquired on the base leg, the first officer resumed handling duties. During the final approach, the aircraft drifted above the glideslope, prompting the commander to instruct the pilot flying to correct the profile.
As the aircraft neared the threshold, the commander instructed the first officer to "flatten the approach." The aircraft touched down at the normal point, but the landing was firm. Shortly after, a "Touched Runway" warning illuminated, and the crew noted a momentary indication of a high landing attitude. Upon taxiing to the parking stand, inspection revealed skin damage and minor internal frame damage to the underside of the rear fuselage.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the aircraft's attitude during the flare and the sequence of events leading to the fuselage strike. While the Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) failed to provide usable data due to an electronic circuit failure, the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and crew testimonies provided a clear account of the flight.
Investigators examined the aircraft's configuration and the pilot's handling. The aircraft was fully configured with flaps 15 and was at the correct airspeed for the approach. The investigation also reviewed the airfield characteristics, noting that Plymouth is a Category 'B' airfield with an unusual upslope on Runway 31, which requires specific pitch management during landing.
Findings
- The primary cause of the strike was a high pitch attitude during the landing flare.
- The first officer, who was relatively new to the type, may have been preoccupied with correcting the aircraft's deviation from the glideslope.
- It is possible that power levers were retarded to descend back to the glideslope but were not advanced sufficiently to maintain energy.
- The commander's decision to allow the trainee to re-assume handling duties while the aircraft was still unstable contributed to the event.
- There were no injuries to the 30 passengers or 5 crew members on board.