What happened
On June 8, 2010, an Embraer ERJ 190-200 IGW, registration PR-AYB, operating a commercial flight from Maringá to Curitiba, experienced a hard landing incident. During the approach to runway 15 at Curitiba Airport (SBCT), the aircraft initially touched the runway at 17:07 UTC. Following this initial contact, the aircraft briefly became airborne for approximately four seconds before striking the runway a second time with significant force.
The second impact resulted in a vertical descent rate of 120 feet per minute and a load factor of 3.2 g. Due to the nature of the second impact, the instructor in command immediately executed a go-around maneuver. A subsequent approach and landing were completed normally. There were no fatalities and no injuries among the 99 passengers and 5 crew members on board. The aircraft sustained minor damage, specifically abrasion to two ventral fuselage drain masts.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators analyzed flight data from the Digital Voice and Data Recorder (DVDR) and the Quick Access Recorder (QAR). The investigation focused on the flight parameters during the landing phase, including pitch, vertical velocity, and load factors. The investigation also reviewed the flight crew's experience, specifically noting that the co-pilot was undergoing training on the E190 and was flying his first jet aircraft. Additionally, the investigation examined the airline's training supervision and communication processes regarding pilot instruction progress.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was inadequate control inputs by the co-pilot, specifically an insufficient and late flare maneuver, which led to an excessive descent rate and a high load factor during the second touchdown.
- The co-pilot demonstrated inadequate pilot judgment regarding the landing maneuver, appearing to rely on a trial-and-error method.
- The co-pilot's limited experience with jet aircraft operations likely influenced the improper execution of the flare.
- Management supervision of training activities was inadequate, as there was no formal process to ensure instructors had timely access to the most recent information regarding student progress.
- Meteorological conditions were favorable, with visibility exceeding 10 km and no presence of wind shear or turbulence.