What happened
On 11 December 2013, an ATR 72-212A, registration EC-LFA, operated by Naysa, was performing a scheduled domestic passenger flight from Gran Canaria to Tenerife-North Airport. During the landing phase on runway 12, the aircraft experienced a sequence of heavy impacts. The initial touchdown occurred with the nose wheel, followed by three subsequent bounces on the main landing gear.
As the aircraft continued its landing run, it began to deviate from the runway centerline toward the left. The nose wheel eventually departed the paved surface and entered a grassy area near taxiway E2. The crew immediately initiated an emergency evacuation of the 55 persons on board (51 passengers and 4 crew), none of whom sustained injuries. The aircraft sustained significant damage, including a destroyed nose wheel and damage to the left main landing gear strut.
The investigation
The CIAIAC examined flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) data, alongside meteorological reports and crew statements. The investigation focused on the aircraft's pitch attitude and vertical speed during the final moments of the approach. Investigators analyzed the impact of environmental factors, such as heavy rain, night conditions, and the runway's positive gradient, on the crew's perception of the landing.
Findings
- The flight crew was properly qualified, and the aircraft was airworthy and maintained according to regulations.
- The approach was stable until the final moments before touchdown.
- The aircraft made a landing characterized by high horizontal and vertical speeds.
- Environmental conditions, including darkness, heavy rain, bright runway lights, and the runway's positive gradient, created optical illusions. These illusions led the crew to misjudge the aircraft's altitude and distance from the runway.
- The initial hard contact with the nose wheel, combined with the high sink rate, caused the nose gear to fail and resulted in the loss of directional control.