What happened
On the night of December 20, 2024, an Air Calédonie ATR 72-212A, registration F-OZKN, was performing a commercial passenger flight from Nouméa-Magenta to Ouvéa-Ouloup. The flight arrived at the destination approximately one hour behind schedule.
During the approach to runway 31, the crew utilized an RNP LNAV procedure. As the aircraft descended, the pilot flying (PF) disconnected the autopilot and yaw damper at approximately 600 feet. To align with the PAPI approach slope, which is steeper than the RNP approach slope, the PF applied a nose-down input and reduced engine torque.
As the aircraft approached the threshold at a height of approximately 60 feet, the PF significantly reduced engine power and initiated a strong nose-up input. This maneuver caused the aircraft's pitch attitude to increase to 6.4°. Consequently, the tail of the aircraft struck the runway with a vertical load factor of 2.2 g. The aircraft subsequently bounced before the main landing gear made contact with the runway again. The crew taxied to the stand, where they identified damage to the tail bumper.
The investigation
The investigation, based on flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) analysis, examined the crew's experience, the airport's lighting conditions, and the approach procedures. Investigators noted that the crew had identified the short runway and the night landing as significant threats during the arrival briefing. The investigation also compared the approach slope of the RNP procedure to the steeper PAPI slope and reviewed the crew's recent experience with night landings in dimly lit environments.