What happened
On May 22, 2006, an Alitalia MD-82, registration I-DATS, was performing a scheduled international passenger flight from Milan Malpensa to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. During the landing phase on runway 18R, the aircraft encountered significant wind conditions. As the crew executed the landing flare approximately three seconds before touchdown, the aircraft underwent a sharp roll movement to the left. This maneuver resulted in the left wingtip making contact with the runway surface, causing damage to the aircraft's wingtip. No injuries were reported among the 125 passengers or the 4 crew members on board.
The investigation
The investigation, conducted by the Dutch Safety Board, utilized data from the digital flight data recorder (DFDR), the cockpit voice recorder (CVR), and the Quick Access Recorder (QAR). Investigators examined the meteorological reports, including the TAF and METAR for Schiphol, and analyzed the wind information available to the crew. The investigation also reviewed the aircraft's flight parameters, such as airspeed, pitch, and roll angles, alongside the crew's use of landing techniques and cockpit communication.
Findings
Several contributing factors led to the incident. The crew had prepared for the approach using outdated wind information, specifically using a wind of 220°/19 kt, whereas the actual conditions at the time of landing involved much higher wind speeds and gusts. This discrepancy meant the crew did not apply the necessary speed additives to their final approach speed, which should have been higher to account for the actual wind.
Furthermore, the investigation identified ineffective cockpit resource management. While the crew had initially discussed using a flaps 28° setting, they ultimately switched to flaps 40° without a clear reason being communicated or discussed. During the landing, the pilot flying applied left rudder to align the aircraft with the runway centerline, which, combined with a wind gust from the right, induced a significant left roll. The combination of the aircraft's pitch and bank angles during this maneuver directly caused the wingtip to strike the runway.
Safety action
While the report focuses on the findings of the specific incident, it highlights the necessity for thorough wind component discussion and effective communication regarding configuration changes (such as flap settings) to ensure all crew members are prepared for the actual landing conditions.