Engine Nacelle Damage During Landing at Milan Malpensa

Casualties unknown • Aeroporto di Milano Malpensa, IT

A Boeing 747 cargo flight experienced significant engine nacelle damage after the aircraft's right engine housing struck the runway during a manual landing in low visibility.

What happened

On January 23, 2001, at 01:44 UTC, a Boeing 747-243B Special Freighter, registration I-DEMC, was performing a cargo flight from Chicago to Milan Malpensa. During the landing phase on runway 35R, the aircraft experienced a prolonged and forceful contact between the underside of the number 4 engine nacelle (the outer engine on the right wing) and the runway surface.

At approximately 60 feet above the ground, the pilot flying (PF) attempted to correct a slight lateral deviation from the runway centerline. This intervention resulted in excessive control inputs, causing the aircraft to tilt sharply to the right. Consequently, the right main landing gear was heavily compressed, while the left main gear remained several meters above the ground. The resulting angle of inclination caused the engine nacelle to scrape the runway for approximately 7 to 8 seconds, leading to significant metal loss on the lower drainage fin.

Following the contact, the pilot flying initiated an unexpected go-around. During this maneuver, the aircraft was still partially supported by the right main gear on the runway, leading to an irregular climb profile and delayed retraction of the landing gear and flaps.

The investigation

The ANSV investigation relied on flight data from the Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) and interviews with the crew, as the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and radio communications were not available for review. The investigation examined the aircraft's flight path, the pilot's manual control inputs, and the meteorological conditions, which included low visibility (RVR 800m) and rain.

Findings

  • The pilot flying took manual control of the aircraft at 1,000 feet, transitioning from an automated approach to a manual one.
  • Excessive and incorrect control inputs used to correct a minor runway centerline deviation caused the aircraft to bank heavily to the right.
  • The severe tilt caused the number 4 engine nacelle to strike the runway surface.
  • The decision to perform a go-around was made by the pilot flying without the prior agreement of the other crew members.
  • The go-around was executed while the right main gear was still in contact with the runway, resulting in an unstable climb and delayed configuration changes.

Probable cause

The primary cause of the incident was the pilot's improper manual control inputs intended to correct a minor lateral deviation, which induced a severe bank angle and subsequent engine nacelle contact with the runway.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2001-01-23 B 747 Cargo, accident near Aeroporto di Milano Malpensa, IT?

A Boeing 747 cargo flight experienced significant engine nacelle damage after the aircraft's right engine housing struck the runway during a manual landing in low visibility.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2001-01-23 involved a B 747 Cargo,, registration I-DEMC, at Aeroporto di Milano Malpensa, IT.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The primary cause of the incident was the pilot's improper manual control inputs intended to correct a minor lateral deviation, which induced a severe bank angle and subsequent engine nacelle contact with the runway.

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