ERJ-170 flight crew reported executing a go-around after a low altitude wake turbulence encounter led to a bounced landing at JFK.
Synopsis
ERJ-170 flight crew reported executing a go-around after a low altitude wake turbulence encounter led to a bounced landing at JFK.
Narrative
The flight was uneventful in that there were no aircraft exceedances or undesired aircraft states throughout the flight. While on approach to JFK; NY Approach advised us that we were to expect the RNAV-Z 13L into JFK. We proceeded with the approach as normal; following regulatory and company SOP requirements with no deviations or exceedances. We were instructed we were cleared to land behind traffic in front of us; with which both the Captain and I noted we had visual contact. We followed the traffic and proceeded with the RNAV-Z 13L; and I (First Officer; PF) disconnected the autopilot between 500' and 1000' once the aircraft's longitudinal axis was aligned with the runway. The approach and roundout was flown as planned; however the aircraft encountered what the Captain and I believed to have been wake turbulence at approximately 50 feet AGL; which created a sinking motion sooner than what was expected over the runway. Due to this encounter; I increased pitch of the airplane; however the aircraft contacted the ground at an unknown rate of descent; and bounced; ascending approximately 5-10 feet above the pavement. It was at this time that both the Captain and I initiated a go-around maneuver from 13L; and the Captain took flight controls and increased thrust and pitch in accordance with company SOP. The Captain maintained the flight controls and was the Pilot Flying for the remainder of the flight. JFK ATC contacted us almost immediately; and instructed us to fly runway heading; climb and maintain 2000 feet; and to contact NY Departure. Due to the unexpected nature of the event; I repeated back to ATC to fly runway heading and maintain 4000' and contact NY Departure; which is what we did on climbout. Once contacting NY Departure; the aircraft was at 2;900 feet; and ATC instructed us to level at 3;000'; I queried and asked the ATC Controller if they wanted us to level at 4;000'; at which point they realized we were already passing 3;000' and they instructed us to maintain 4;000'. The flight continued with the RNAV-X 22L into JFK; with no further issues or deviations from SOP. The purpose of this report is to explain the occurrence of what we believe to have been a wake turbulence encounter at 50 feet AGL over runway 13L at JFK; which lead to a hard landing with unknown rate of descent; bounced landing; and subsequent go-around with confusion in ATC instructions given. The Captain and myself debriefed thoroughly after arriving at the gate in JFK; and explained what happened and what could have gone differently; and how we can improve our go-around procedures in the future.
Second reporter narrative
Coming into land on the RNAV 13L approach into JFK everything was going smoothly and as planned. The first officer was flying the aircraft and at about 50 ft above the runway brought the throttle to idle since we were coming in fast with ice speeds; VAPP (Approach Speed) was about 147. Once the throttle was at idle there was no flare and the aircraft started to sink quickly; the Captain grabbed the controls and increased the pitch to try and soften the landing; the aircraft touched down hard leading to a bounced landing. A go around was immediately initiated by the Captain who had the controls at this point. On the go around Tower gave us an altitude of 2000 to climb to; the first officer accidentally read back 4000; and there was no correction by the Tower. 4000 was already set in the altitude window; the Captain was very busy at this point trying to control the aircraft and didn't hear the altitude given by the Tower. Once Tower switched us to Departure they told us to maintain 3000; when we were already at 2800 and climbing; the first officer asked to clarify the altitude and Departure again said maintain 3000; at this point we were already above 3000; then Departure came back to us saying I'm sorry climb and maintain 4000. We leveled at 4000 and then was vectored for the RNAV 22L approach; where we set up and landed with no further incident.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.