What happened
On 9 January 2006, a Spanair MD-83, registration EC-GAT, was performing a scheduled domestic flight from Bilbao to Barcelona-El Prat Airport. During the approach to runway 07R, the crew was managing an environmental restriction that prohibited descending below 5,000 ft before crossing the coastline. To manage their altitude, the crew requested to fly direct to the final approach fix, which reduced the distance available to decelerate.
The aircraft's approach was highly unstable. The crew maintained a high airspeed of 260 kt and a steep descent rate of approximately 2,500 ft/min. By the time the aircraft reached the threshold, it was traveling at 200 kt, significantly exceeding the target landing speed of 129 kt. The aircraft touched down 700 m beyond the touchdown zone, and the nose gear made contact with the runway well before the main gear.
This nose-first touchdown caused the main gear wheels to skid and blow out. The friction from the skidding tires and the contact of the rims with the pavement caused hydraulic lines to rupture and ignited a fire on the left landing gear leg. The aircraft came to a stop 140 meters before the end of the runway. The crew initiated an immediate evacuation of the 90 passengers and 6 crew members. While the fire was quickly extinguished by airport services, some passengers sustained minor injuries during the evacuation.
The investigation
The CIAIAC investigation focused on the flight path, the aircraft's configuration, and the crew's adherence to standard operating procedures. Investigators examined the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data, noting that the crew failed to perform required callouts, such as the "1,000 ft stabilized" check. The investigation also reviewed the aircraft's maintenance records and the functionality of the antiskid and braking systems.
Findings
- The approach was non-stabilized due to excessive altitude and airspeed.
- The crew failed to execute a go-around despite the unstable approach parameters.
- The nose gear contacted the runway before the main gear, which nullified the protective interlocks of the antiskid system.
- The resulting skid caused the tires to blow out and ignited a fire due to friction and leaking hydraulic fluid.
- There was a lack of coordination and adherence to standard operating procedures (SOPs) between the captain and the first officer.
Safety action
- The investigation recommended that Spanair implement a monitoring program to ensure crew compliance with MD-80 operating procedures, specifically during approach and landing.
- Additional training was recommended for crews regarding stabilized approaches, SOPs, and Crew Resource Management (CRM).