The Taiwan Transportation Safety Board (TTSB) releases final report on investigation of a China Airlines flight CI6844 the aircraft landed at the pre-threshold area, runway 05L which is 21 meters away before the runway threshold at Taoyuan Airport. 

On December 13, 2018, a China Airlines Boeing B747-409F freighter, registration number B-18717, took off from Hong Kong International Airport to Taoyuan International Airport to execute a schedule cargo service flight. There were 1 pilot and 1 first officer on board. The aircraft landed at the pre-threshold area which is 21 meters away before the runway threshold. There are 3 of the runway end identifier lights were damaged during this flight, no one was hurt on board.

According to the Republic of China (ROC) Transportation Occurrence Investigation Act, and the content of Annex 13 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, the TTSB, an independent transportation occurrence investigation agency, was responsible for conducting the investigation. The investigation parties invited to participate in this investigation included: National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Boeing aircraft company, Civil Aeronautical Administration (CAA), ROC and China Airlines.

Findings related to probable causes:

1. The operation of the pilot-flying, first officer, was not able to adequately control and use between both of the pitch attitude of the aircraft and the power lever to maintain the aircraft in the glide slope with proper attitude during approach at this flight, the improper timing of the landing flare and inadequate power lever controlling led a hard landing outside the touchdown zone, these indicated the ability of the manual landing control did not meet the safety landing standards.
2. The pilot monitoring, pilot-in-command, was not able to stay in vigilant during approaching and landing operation of the junior pilot-flying at this flight, When the aircraft had an abnormal situation, it was too late to take-over the operation or called out go-around, it caused the hard landing.

Findings related to risk：

1. The planning or the execution of “Junior Capt/FO Proficiency Monitoring Program” was not able to effectively manage the operations of the manual landing stays within the safe landing boundaries.
2. The runway exposed in the risk of foreign object contamination inasmuch as the occurrence flight crew did not exactly report the situation they encountered to the tower and China Airline after landing.

Transportation Safety Recommendations

To China Airlines

3. Enhance the ability of manual landing operations to junior pilot.
4. Require the pilot-in-command, if and when the flight collaborates with a junior pilot, must stay vigilant in approaching and landing operation, and taking over the control at proper timing or request a go-around as the relevant regulation requested once the aircraft encountering in suboptimal situation for the landing safety.
5. Reevaluate the planning and the execution of “Junior Capt/FO Proficiency Monitoring Program” to fulfill the program effectively.

To Civil Aeronautics Administration, Ministry of Transportation and Communications

1. Supervise and ensure China Airlines reevaluating the planning and the execution of “Junior Capt/FO Proficiency Monitoring Program” to fulfill the program effectively to enhance the ability of manual landing operations to junior pilot.
2. Supervise and ensure the result of China Airlines requiring the pilot-in-command, if and when the flight collaborates with a junior pilot, must stay in vigilant during approaching and landing operation, and taking over the control at proper timing or request a go-around as the relevant regulation requested once the aircraft encountering in suboptimal situation.

 Full Final Report is in Chinese only and available for download   at https://www.ttsb.gov.tw

Sherry Liu, Safety Investigator

Tel: 89127388-6286 Email:sherry@ttsb.gov.tw

Website: https://www.ttsb.gov.tw