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Status:	Final
Date:	07 FEB 2001
Type:	Airbus A320-214
Operator:	Iberia
Registration:	EC-HKJ
C/n / msn:	1278
First flight:	2000
Total airframe hrs:	1149
Cycles:	869
Engines:	2 CFMI CFM56-5B4/P
Crew:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 7
Passengers:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 136
Total:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 143
Airplane damage:	Written off
Airplane fate:	Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:	Bilbao Airport (BIO) (Spain)
Phase:	Landing (LDG)
Nature:	Domestic Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport:	Barcelona Airport (BCN/LEBL), Spain
Destination airport:	Bilbao Airport (BIO/LEBB), Spain
Flightnumber:	1456

Narrative:
Following a nighttime flight from Barcelona to Bilbao, the crew positioned the plane for a runway 30 approach and landing. During their final ILS approach, the aircraft encountered heavy turbulence at about 200 feet agl. with gusts up to 65 mph. The aircraft encountered windshear with 1.25G updraft, downdraft and a tailwind gust at just 70 feet agl. When the Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) sounded, the captain called for a go-around while pulling on the sidestick, reportedly without pressing his priority control button. The combination of dynamic winds and the crew actions created a situation that triggered the airplane's alpha protection system. As the crew applied TOGA power for a go-around, with both pilots pulling back on their sidesticks, the alpha protection law reduced the elevator nose-up command. Instead of a go- around, the aircraft struck the runway with a vertical speed of approx. 1,200 fpm. The nosegear collapsed and the aircraft skidded 3,280 feet (about 1000m) down the runway before coming to a stop.

CAUSES: "The cause of the accident was the activation of the angle of attack protection system which, under a particular combination of vertical gusts and windshear and the simultaneous actions of both crew members on the sidesticks, not considered in the design, prevented the aeroplane from pitching up and flaring during the landing."

Follow-up / safety actions:
This incident prompted Airbus to develop a modification to its flight control software. It will prevent the airplane's built-in protection against stall from being activated by a high rate of change in angle of attack. As an interim action, an AD was issued requiring A.320/A.319
operators to fly at least 10 knots faster and to use only a setting of "CONFIG 3" during approach with gusts higher than 10 knots or when moderate to severe turbulence is expected on short final.

Sources:
» Air Safety Week, Vol. 15, No. 25

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; record last updated: 2010-09-08 (Probable cause)