Incident at Calgary International Airport caused by lack of training

The Transportation Safety Board (TSB) says the incident that resulted in a Westjet plane crashing into a runway in Calgary earlier this year was linked to a problem with pilot training on a specific plane model.

On April 13, at approximately 2:30 p.m., a DHC-8-402 operated by Westjet Encore arrived to land at Calgary International Airport.

In its report, the TSB said the plane’s rear fuselage struck the runway, causing damage to the plane’s belly.

No one was injured and all passengers disembarked normally, but the aircraft was taken out of service following the incident.

An investigation was launched following the incident, examining the flight crew, the weather and the aircraft itself to determine what happened.

As a result, the TSB determined that the issue was related to a series of incidents involving the DHC-8 aircraft that were first reported more than 20 years ago.

Which led to the strike

In an online report, the TSB said the first officer turned off the autopilot during the flight and took over the controls at 500 feet above ground level.

As the plane descended, the flight captain instructed the first officer to triple power and adjust the plane’s pitch for a proper landing, but the safe limit was exceeded just before the plane touched down, the TSB said.

“Two seconds before touchdown, the pitch increased from five degrees to 8.3 degrees and the power levers moved forward,” it said.

Contact with the runway caused “significant damage” to the plane, which included “deformed frames and stringers” and holes in the fuselage.

The TSB found that the plane’s tail strike switch was also damaged.

During its investigation, the agency found that after similar incidents involving a DHC-8 aircraft in 2003, the plane’s manufacturer produced a training video.

“The video highlights the importance of monitoring the aircraft’s pitch and managing its energy by controlling excessive rate of descent by using engine power rather than increasing the aircraft’s pitch near the ground,” the TSB said.

“When the main landing gear oleo compresses during a hard landing, the DHC-8-400 fuselage touches the ground at an angle of approximately seven degrees.”

Five years later, the TSB said rear fuselage impacts were still occurring, prompting a service letter to DHC-8-400 operators that reiterated the importance of pitch awareness.

“The letter recommended incorporating five- and six-degree pitch awareness calls into standard procedures and controlling the rate of descent below 200 feet above ground level using power levers.

“The service letter also referenced the training video and suggested that operators offer initial and periodic pitch awareness training.”

In its investigation into the April incident, the TSB found that the increase in sound pitch occurred less than two seconds before touchdown.

Security measures taken

Following the incident, both the captain and first officer of the flight in question were ordered to complete additional flight simulator training focusing on aircraft pitch awareness before performing any other flight-related duties, the TSB said.

Westjet Encore also revised its pilot training courses to place greater emphasis on aircraft pitch awareness, landing techniques and other procedures.

In addition to the April incident, 13 other DHC-9 rear fuselage impacts have been reported to the TSB since 2002.

Six of them concerned the 400 series.