Overview
On July 29th, 2023, a United Airlines Boeing 767-300, registration N641UA, performing flight UA-702 from Newark, NJ (EWR) to Houston, TX (IAH) with 193 passengers and 9 crew, experienced a hard landing at Houston’s runway 26L. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to its fuselage, including visible wrinkles, but no injuries were reported.
Incident Details
• Aircraft:
• Type: Boeing 767-300
• Registration: N641UA
• Engines: Pratt & Whitney PW4000
• Operator: United Airlines
• Flight Information:
• Flight Number: UA-702
• Route: Newark (EWR) to Houston Intercontinental (IAH)
• Date: July 29th, 2023
• Time: 10:34 local time (15:34Z)
Sequence of Events
1. Approach:
• The aircraft was cleared for the DOOBI2 STAR and ILS 26L approach.
• Fully configured for landing, the approach met United’s stabilized criteria.
2. Landing:
• The first officer (FO) was the pilot flying. Upon initial touchdown on the main landing gear, the nosewheel contacted the runway with excessive force, causing a bounce.
• The FO attempted to stabilize the aircraft by pulling the control yoke aft, leading to further bounces.
• The speed brakes deployed automatically when the thrust reversers were activated while the nose gear was airborne, exacerbating the impact forces during subsequent bounces.
• The captain assumed control, completing the rollout without further incident.
3. Post-Landing Inspection:
• A visual inspection revealed substantial damage to the fuselage, including wrinkles in the crown section of the upper fuselage.
Key Findings
1. Probable Causes:
• Improper control inputs: The FO’s handling during de-rotation led to abnormal nosewheel impacts.
• Speed brake arming: The crew failed to arm the speed brakes prior to landing, causing delayed deployment and exacerbating the impact forces.
2. Contributing Factors:
• Training history: The FO had marginal performance in landing evaluations and was under enhanced monitoring.
• Speed brake procedure gap: The absence of visual or auditory cues for speed brake arming may have contributed to oversight.
Safety Recommendations
1. Crew Training:
• Enhanced training for de-rotation techniques and proper control inputs during landing roll.
• Additional emphasis on speed brake arming procedures during approach briefings.
2. Procedural Updates:
• Implementing visual indicators for speed brake arming on the flight deck.
• Revisions to checklist flows to emphasize speed brake arming.
3. Monitoring and Evaluation:
• Continued focus on pilots with recent training performance concerns.
• Encouraging captain intervention during stabilized deviations in critical phases of flight.
Meteorological Data (METARs)
• Conditions at IAH:
• Winds: Light and variable
• Visibility: 10SM
• Temperature: 34°C
• Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
Conclusion
This incident highlights the criticality of proper control inputs and adherence to procedural requirements during landing. United Airlines and regulatory authorities must address the identified gaps through improved training and procedural refinements to ensure safe operations.
Disclaimer
This report is based on publicly available information as of January 17th, 2025. If you are the rightful owner of any associated media or details and wish for them to be removed, please contact takedown@cockpitking.com.
