Date: 1st October 2022
Location: Nantes Atlantique Airport (NTE), France
Aircraft: Boeing 737-800, registration F-GZHA
Operator: Transavia France
Flight Number: TO-3943
Route: Djerba, Tunisia (DJE) to Nantes, France (NTE)
Occupants: 160 passengers
Injuries: None
Damage: Substantial (nose gear, fuselage, and engines)
Summary of Events
On 1st October 2022, Transavia France Flight TO-3943, a Boeing 737-800, sustained substantial damage during landing at Nantes Atlantique Airport. Both nose tyres were destroyed upon touchdown, causing the aircraft to roll out on its nose wheel rims. The crew managed to vacate the runway and stopped the aircraft safely on a taxiway. There were no injuries reported among the passengers and crew.
The French Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety (BEA) opened an investigation into the incident, which was classified as an accident due to the extent of the damage.
Sequence of Events
1. Descent and Approach:
• During the descent, the co-pilot, who was in line adaptation training, expressed concerns about his ability to perform the landing. He specifically noted challenges with the flare and apprehensions about repeating a firm landing made the previous day on the same runway.
• The non-linear profile of Runway 21, which features a “hump,” was discussed but not thoroughly addressed during the approach briefing.
2. Landing Attempt:
• The co-pilot manually flew the final approach, with the automation disconnected at 2,000 feet to gain manual flight experience.
• Visual challenges posed by the ascending runway slope, combined with crosswind conditions, increased the co-pilot’s workload.
3. Hard Landing and Damage:
• As the aircraft crossed the runway threshold, the co-pilot began the flare too late. A sharp, sudden nose-up input was made at low altitude, which failed to sufficiently reduce the aircraft’s energy before touchdown.
• The main landing gear made hard contact with the runway at a recorded load factor of 2.95g, followed by a bounce.
• The instructor reflexively applied a nose-down input, causing the nose gear to strike the runway forcefully, ejecting both nose tyres and causing the aircraft to roll on its rims.
4. Aftermath:
• The instructor maintained control, keeping the aircraft on the runway centerline before safely vacating to a taxiway.
• Passengers disembarked without incident.
Initial Findings
1. Contributing Factors:
• Runway Profile: The rising slope and “hump” on Runway 21 influenced the crew’s perception, leading to a delayed flare.
• Co-Pilot’s Experience: Limited recent experience and apprehensions about landing under challenging conditions likely increased workload and stress.
• Instructor Oversight: The captain instructor underestimated the risks associated with the runway and the co-pilot’s concerns, opting to allow the co-pilot to handle the landing independently.
2. Damage:
• The hard landing caused structural damage to the nose gear, fuselage, and engines, necessitating extensive repairs.
Recommendations
1. Enhanced Training:
• Improve simulator training to replicate non-linear runway profiles and challenging approach scenarios, such as those encountered at Nantes.
2. Briefing Protocols:
• Ensure comprehensive briefings that address environmental factors, such as crosswinds and unique runway characteristics, and include strategies for managing pilot stress.
3. Instructor Interventions:
• Reinforce decision-making protocols for instructors to intervene early in critical phases of flight, particularly during training operations.
4. Runway Assessments:
• Evaluate runway design at Nantes to determine whether visual aids or procedural adjustments could mitigate challenges associated with the “hump” on Runway 21.
Safety Lessons
This accident highlights the importance of addressing environmental and operational challenges during approach briefings, particularly for training flights. The interplay between runway characteristics, crew experience, and stress underscores the need for comprehensive risk management and vigilant oversight by instructors.
Disclaimer
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Our investigation reports are based on all the evidence and facts we have at the time of writing and posting. We apologise if any details are missed or are not fully accurate.
