Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
Date: | Sunday 4 February 2001 |
Time: | 19:21 |
Type: | Shorts 360-100 |
Operator: | Aer Arann Express |
Registration: | EI-BPD |
MSN: | SH.3656 |
First flight: | 1984-10-23 (16 years 4 months) |
Total airframe hrs: | 23703 |
Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65AR |
Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3 |
Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 25 |
Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 28 |
Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
Location: | Sheffield City Airport (SZD) ( United Kingdom)
|
Phase: | Landing (LDG) |
Nature: | International Scheduled Passenger |
Departure airport: | Dublin Airport (DUB/EIDW), Ireland |
Destination airport: | Sheffield City Airport (SZD/EGSY), United Kingdom |
Narrative:Shorts 360 EI-BPD departed Dublin at 18:14 for a flight to Sheffield. The aircraft was cleared for the ILS/DME procedure for runway 28 and the crew requested the QFE which was 980 hPa. The decision height for the approach was 400 feet. At 1918:11 the crew reported that they were established on the localizer. When the aircraft intercepted the glidepath, the flaps were set to 15° correctly configuring the aircraft for the approach. The handling pilot recalled that initially the rate of descent was slightly higher than the expected 650 ft/min leading him to suspect the presence of a tailwind, however, the rate of descent returned to a more normal value when approximately 4 nm from the runway. The propellers were set to the maximum rpm at 1,200 feet agl. When the crew reported that they were inside 4 nm they were cleared to land and passed the surface wind, which was variable at 2 kt; they were also warned that the runway surface was wet. Both pilots saw the runway lights when approaching 400 feet agl; the flaps were selected to 30° and confirmed at that position. Both pilots believed that the airspeed was satisfactory but, as the commander checked back on the control column for the landing, the rate of descent increased noticeably and the aircraft landed firmly. Both pilots believed that the power levers were in the flight idle position and neither was aware of any unusual control inputs during the landing flare. The aircraft bounced before hitting the ground again, this time with the nose wheel first, before bouncing once more. The aircraft was then seen to travel about half way along the runway before slewing to the left and running onto the grass. When the aircraft stopped the left wing tip appeared to be touching the grass.
Probable Cause:
CONCLUSION: "Evidence from the CVR indicated that the flight was conducted in a thoroughly professional manner in accordance the operator's normal procedures until the final stages of the approach. The recorded data indicate that three seconds prior to touchdown the propeller blade angle changed from the flight range to the ground range. Coincident with this change the CVR recorded sounds consistent with the propellers 'disking' and the FDR indicated that the aircraft then decelerated longitudinally and accelerated downwards. The engineering investigation revealed that the propeller control rigging and the operation of the flight idle baulk were correct. Selection of ground fine requires the pilot to firstly release the flight idle baulk and then lift and pull the propeller levers further back, this combined action rapidly becomes a programmed motor skill in the routine of daily operations. It is therefore possible that the handling pilot unintentionally selected the propellers into the ground fine position whilst still in the air."
Accident investigation:
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Investigating agency: | AAIB (U.K.) |
Status: | Investigation completed |
Duration: | 239 days (8 months) | Accident number: | AAIB Bulletin 10/2001 | Download report: | Final report
|
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Sources:
» Aviation Letter 417
» Flight International 24-30 July 2001
Photos
accident date:
04-02-2001type: Shorts 360-100
registration: EI-BPD
accident date:
04-02-2001type: Shorts 360-100
registration: EI-BPD
accident date:
04-02-2001type: Shorts 360-100
registration: EI-BPD
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does
not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Dublin Airport to Sheffield City Airport as the crow flies is 321 km (201 miles).
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.