CAPT OF AN LGT MADE A HARD LNDG.

Narrative

CAPT FLEW THE APCH INTO BTV AT NIGHT IN MODERATE RAIN. HE REMARKED WHILE BEING VECTORED FOR THE APCH THAT HE WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY SEEING THROUGH HIS WINDSHIELD. I ATTRIBUTED THAT TO HIS USING RAIN REPELLANT AND IT HAD NOT HAD A CHANCE TO FULLY WORK. IN RETROSPECT; I THING HE MAY HAVE A NIGHT VISION PROB. I TOLD HIM THAT I WOULD CALL OUT RADAR ALTIMETER READINGS TO HIM BELOW 100 FT AGL. THE APCH WAS FLOWN NORMALLY (STABILIZED BY 1000 FT AGL) AND I FELT COMFORTABLE GOING 'INSIDE' AT 100 FT AGL TO CALL OFF ALTS ON THE RADAR ALTIMETER. AS I BEGAN THE CALLOUTS 100 FT AND 50 FT I REALIZED THE CADENCE/TIMING WAS TOO FAST. I LOOKED UP TOO LATE TO AFFECT THE OUTCOME OF AN APCH FLOWN WITH LITTLE OR NO FLARE. THE LNDG WAS HARD BUT NO OXYGEN MASKS FELL. INITIALLY I FELT THAT THE ACFT HAD SEEN A 'HARD' LNDG. I WANTED TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT BUT THE CAPT CONVINCED ME THAT IT DIDN'T QUALIFY AS A TRUE HARD LNDG. HE HAD SEEN MUCH WORSE. (AND PROBABLY DIDN'T WRITE THAT ONE UP EITHER) MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THERE IS NO OBJECTIVE CRITERION AVAILABLE TO AIRCREWS TO HELP THEM MAKE THAT JUDGEMENT. (LIKE A G-METER OR A WARNING LIGHT YOU COULD POINT TO AND SAY 'YES; IT WAS A HARD LNDG'). I SHOULD HAVE OFFERED TO FLY THE APCH FOR HIM BUT I DIDN'T REALIZE HIS ABILITY TO SEE WAS IMPAIRED THAT GREATLY UNTIL THE LNDG. AIRPLANE WAS UNDAMAGED - INSPECTED BY QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.