FlightFinder
Casualties unknown

2014-07-31: Airbus 320 (ES-SAL) — Tallinna Lennuväli, EE

Tallinna Lennuväli, EE

On July 31, 2014, an Airbus 320 (registration ES-SAL) was involved in an aviation accident near Tallinna Lennuväli, EE. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The primary cause of the tailstrike was the flight crew's failure to execute a go-around procedure following an initial touchdown and subsequent bounce, compounded by an increase in pitch angle that led to contact between the aircraft's tail and the runway. This summary draws on records from the Estonian Safety Investigation Bureau (OJK).

Sourcesthe Estonian Safety Investigation Bureau (OJK)Primary reportUpdated 1781031101Data APIEditorial standards
Aircraft registered ES-SAL
Aircraft registered ES-SAL. Photo: Pedro Aragão / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

An Airbus A320 operated by SmartLynx Airlines Estonia experienced a tailstrike during landing at Tallinn Airport due to improper pitch management and failure to execute a go-around.

What happened

On July 31, 2014, at approximately 11:45 local time, an Airbus A3/20, registration ES-SAL, operated by SmartLynx Airlines Estonia OÜ, was performing a landing on runway 08 at Tallinn Airport. The weather conditions were reported as CAVOK with winds from 180 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 21 knots.

During the approach, the captain (acting as pilot flying) requested an update on meteorological information. Due to a crosswind component exceeding the operator's established limit for relatively inexperienced pilots, the command of the aircraft was transferred to the captain. During the flare and touchdown phase, the aircraft's pitch angle reached 9.8 degrees at the moment of initial contact with the runway. Following this initial contact, the aircraft bounced. In an attempt to stabilize the situation, the pilot increased the pitch angle to 12.7 degrees. This maneuver resulted in a tailstrike on the displaced threshold, approximately 525 meters from the threshold, causing damage to the aircraft's rear fuselage skin and a drain pipe.

The investigation

The Estonian Safety Investigation Bureau (OJK) classified the event as an incident. The investigation examined the flight crew's actions, the meteorological data provided by Tallinn Air Traffic Control, and the accuracy of the airport's anemometer positioning.

Investigators reviewed the aircraft's flight data, which showed an airspeed of 130 knots at the time of the primary touchdown and a vertical acceleration of 1.6 G, both within the operator's operational limits. The investigation also scrutinized the Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) regarding the location of the anemometer. It was discovered that the AIP contained misleading information regarding the anemometer's position relative to the landing zone, an error that prompted a correction by Tallinn Airport authorities.

Findings

  • The flight crew failed to account for wind variability/windshear during the flare and did not initiate a go-around procedure as prescribed by the manufacturer's Flight Operations Briefing Notes.
  • The crew continued the landing attempt after the initial touchdown despite the aircraft bouncing.
  • The pilot increased the pitch angle significantly following the bounce, which directly led to the tailstrike.
  • There was inaccurate wind information provided by Tallinn Air Traffic Control due to the incorrect positioning of anemometers relative to the runway 08 landing area as documented in the AIP.

Probable cause

The primary cause of the tailstrike was the flight crew's failure to execute a go-around procedure following an initial touchdown and subsequent bounce, compounded by an increase in pitch angle that led to contact between the aircraft's tail and the runway.

More accident analyses