B737 Captain reported a GPWS; GPWS Sink Rate; Wind Shear; Unstable Approach; Speed Deviation; and Exceeded Flap Speed; caused by a strong updraft on approach.

Date: 2025-03 · Aircraft: B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model · Phase: approach

Anomalies: aircraft-equipment-problem-less-severe|deviation-altitude-excursion-from-assigned-altitude|deviation-speed-all-types|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-published-material-policy|inflight-event-encounter-unstabilized-approach|inflight-event-encounter-weather-turbulence|inflight-event-encounter-loss-of-aircraft-control

Synopsis

B737 Captain reported a GPWS; GPWS Sink Rate; Wind Shear; Unstable Approach; Speed Deviation; and Exceeded Flap Speed; caused by a strong updraft on approach.

Narrative

Upon glide slope; intercept (2500 feet) for runway XX at ZZZ during configuration to Flaps 30 a strong gust of wind (300/47) lifted the tail; causing a stab out of trim light to illuminate and aircraft to balloon up. The autopilot tried to fly the glideslope with a nose down attitude; causing a sink rate situation. The pilot flying (Captain) immediately disconnected the auto pilot/ auto throttles; used manual trim and UPRT procedures to recover the aircraft. Recovery altitude was 1900 feet MSL and slightly above the glideslope due to ballooning effect. Airspeed increased from Target (vref 147 + 15 of 162 to 172) Captain observed his airspeed at 172 but FO seen 185 during nose down pitch event and recovery. Flap needles did move from 30 towards 25 but no load relief light was observed. Aircraft was stable by 1500 feet and 500 feet gates for a normal approach to landing on runway XX (winds at surface 330/15 gusting 25). A go-around was not performed at 1900 due to the nose down vector; high nose down trim at auto pilot disconnect; night; strong winds; stab trim light illumination; fully configured and recovered and stable above 1500 feet AGL. Captain and First Officer discussed while continuing approach at 1900 feet if anything looked or felt abnormal to call the go around. Maintenance Control was notified of the potential flap over speed and stab out of trim light. A thorough post flight walk around was accomplished.

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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.