CRJ-700 flight crew reported during a Category II approach at approximately 150 feet AGL; the aircraft began to pitch down at an increasing rate with the autopilot engaged. The flight crew conducted a go around and while entering a hold without autopilot; the aircraft overbanked to 45 degrees. Flight crew recovered and returned to departure airport.
Synopsis
CRJ-700 flight crew reported during a Category II approach at approximately 150 feet AGL; the aircraft began to pitch down at an increasing rate with the autopilot engaged. The flight crew conducted a go around and while entering a hold without autopilot; the aircraft overbanked to 45 degrees. Flight crew recovered and returned to departure airport.
Narrative
Shooting a Category II [approach] into ZZZ; RVR 1200; 800; 600; the aircraft control and autopilot was transferred to the First Officer (FO) and all required checklists run. The beginning of the approach was normal. Shortly after making the '100 to mins' call and prior to reaching decision altitude; the aircraft without any warning began to pitch down at an increasing rate. The flight director remained active; was commanding a normal pitch angle and the autopilot remained engaged. The airplane in spite of this gave no other abnormal indication and simply began to pitch down. When I realized what was happening I called 'go around.' The airplane had pitched down to about five degrees below the horizon and would have continued at an increasing rate somewhere close to a hundred feet above the ground if we had not reacted immediately. Both the FO and I were fairly disturbed by this and the go-around calls were not in the proper sequence after we had set TOGA and established a climb. The Tower told us to fly the published miss and we retracted to eight degrees of flaps late; though we didn't overspeed them. As we turned towards the hold both the FO and I were distracted and didn't realize he had not called for the autopilot. The aircraft reached a bank angle of 45 degrees before we recovered. Cause - Autopilot deviation; distraction; words load.The reason for the aircraft behavior is unknown.
Second reporter narrative
I was pilot flying on final approach into ZZZ. Conditions had deteriorated to Category II minimums on the ILS XX. With the autopilot coupled; the airplane began exhibiting unusual characteristics. On low approach; My RA became intermittent. Upon recognition of this; I should've called for a go-around immediately. At roughly 150 feet AGL; while still connected to the autopilot; the aircraft departed the flight director with a pitch down moment. The Captain saw this and immediately called a go around. I executed a go around procedure immediately. Due to the tense situation; the procedure did not adhere to company standards. Upon positive rate; I called for gear up; neglecting flap retraction until later in the climb out. After; switching back to navigation (white) needles; I forgot to call for the autopilot. This resulted in me over banking the aircraft to the right and receiving a 'BANK ANGLE' annunciation from the aircraft. The Captain recognized the situation and directed me to correct the bank angle. After that; I called for the autopilot on. Upon entering the hold; the holding speed limit was exceeded. We returned to ZZZ1 without attempting another approach without incident. I had not done a real Category II approach in over 1.5 years. Executing a go around in 0/0 conditions was something I had never done before. It was admittedly a tense situation in the cockpit managing workload. For myself; I need to brief go around procedures and not have expectation bias that we're always going to land. Also instill more FO confidence to be afraid to call for a go around.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.