What happened
On 15 January 2009, a Fokker F50, registration OO-VLF, was performing a commercial passenger flight from London City Airport to Ronaldsway Airport, Isle of Man. During the approach to Runway 26, the aircraft encountered challenging weather conditions, with a surface wind of approximately 180° at 24 knots and gusts reaching up to 37 knots. The landing was performed manually in a crosswind that was near the aircraft's maximum demonstrated limit.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft bounced and, during the second contact with the runway, the commander applied full right rudder. Shortly after, the aircraft's engine torque and propeller RPM increased, indicating the application of maximum reverse power. This caused the aircraft to deviate from the runway centerline and depart the paved surface to the left. The aircraft eventually came to a stop with the nose and left main gear off the pavement. There were no injuries to the 20 passengers or 2 passengers on board, and no damage was reported to the aircraft.
The investigation
The AAIB investigation examined the aircraft's flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR). The data revealed that while the initial approach was stable, the application of high reverse power levels coincided with a loss of directional control. Analysis of the engine controls confirmed that there were no mechanical defects in the braking, anti-skid, or engine control systems. The runway surface itself was found to be in good condition, having been recently resurfaced and grooved.
Findings
- The primary cause of the excursion was the selection of a high reverse power setting during a landing in a strong crosswind.
- The use of maximum reverse power disrupted the airflow over the rudder, significantly reducing its effectiveness for directional control.
- The commander intended to select ground idle but instead applied maximum reverse power, a deviation from standard operating procedures.
- The high crosswind component contributed to the aircraft's difficulty in maintaining the runway centerline.