What happened
On April 20, 2019, an Far Eastern Airlines ATR 72-600, registration B-28082, was operating a scheduled passenger flight from Magong Airport to Taichung Airport. The flight, FE3060, carried 72 passengers and 4 crew members. During the approach to Runway 36 at Taichung Airport, the flight crew observed thunderstorms and lightning in the vicinity of the destination. Despite the presence of heavy rain and reduced visibility, the crew decided to proceed with the landing.
As the aircraft approached the runway, the pilot flying (PF) disconnected the autopilot at approximately 970 feet. During the flare, the aircraft exhibited a left bank of 2 to 4 degrees. The pilot monitoring (PM) alerted the PF to the leftward deviation, but the aircraft continued to drift. Upon touchdown, the aircraft failed to maintain the centerline and drifted toward the left edge of the runway. The left main gear exited the runway at approximately 2,300 feet from the threshold, followed by the right main gear at 2,500 feet. The aircraft eventually returned to the runway surface after approximately four seconds. There were no fatalities or injuries among the 76 occupants, and no damage was sustained by the aircraft or runway infrastructure.
The investigation
The Taiwan Transportation Safety Board (TTSB) examined the flight data recorder (FDR), cockpit voice recorder (CVR), and maintenance records. The investigation focused on the crew's decision-making regarding the weather, their landing technique on a wet runway, and the effectiveness of the airline's Crew Resource Management (CRM) training. The investigation also assessed the runway conditions at Taichung Airport, noting the absence of centerline lights and potential issues with surface drainage.
Findings
- The flight crew failed to fully correct the leftward deviation prior to landing and did not execute a go-around despite the visible risks.
- The crew did not utilize appropriate landing techniques for a wet/contaminated runway, such as a firm landing or proper use of rudder and braking.
- The crew failed to maintain the runway centerline and did not properly utilize rudder inputs to correct the leftward drift after touchdown.
- The airline's CRM training and assessment processes were found to be ineffective in enhancing the crew's ability to manage threats, such as severe weather and low visibility.
- Taichung Airport lacked runway centerline lights, and the runway surface had poor drainage, which contributed to the risk during adverse weather.
- There was a lack of detailed guidance in the airline's operating manuals regarding procedures for wet or contaminated runways.