Hard Landing - was it serious?
 

Hey all,

I recently flew r/t from IAD to Heathrow on Virgin Atlantic. The flights were generally a very good experience, but the return landing at IAD was the most violent I can ever recall firsthand and I'm curious to get some context on the severity of the event.

The weather around IAD was clear but rather windy, and the last ~20 minutes of the flight were quite turbulent. The Cabin Crew must've been alerted by the cockpit that it would be rough - they practically ran to their jumpseats and strapped in a good 15 minutes before touchdown, and didn't move again. Several passengers needed their spuckbeutels, including two in my party.

On final approach, there was quite a bit of yaw motion and porpoising. When we touched down, the aircraft bounced back into the air and began rolling toward the right. For about 1.5 seconds, I thought "this could be the end" as I tried to peer out the window to see how close we were to a wing strike. Suddenly, we slammed down onto the runway violently... so much so that a couple overhead bins opened, and the headphones on my lap were jostled to the floor. The first few seconds of rollout were rather violent as we got back on centerline. Notably, there was no "Welcome to IAD..." over the PA for several minutes

This was a Virgin A330. I fly quite a bit and I'm a bit of an Avgeek... but having never experienced a landing like this before, I'm curious to hear others' perspectives. How routine would this be? Should I have bought the pilots a round of scotch?

1. you landed in one piece.
2. no one died.
3. Any landing is a good landing !

Putting the a/c firmly on the ground is preferred in such conditions.

I must experience maybe 6 or 7 such arrivals a month

All points well taken, and makes me feel better.

But preferably only once per approach.

flipperb There are several threads on this topic that the Search function will turn up and some contain a lot of detail.

One of the problems for the pilot is that the final decision to land or go around, has to be made 20/30 seconds before the wheels meet the ground. In that time, wind can do many unexpected things so that a descent rate of 'n' feet per second can become 'n x2' or 'n = 0' or 'n +' feet per second!

Once the wheels have touched the ground the usual procedure (I'm not a pilot) is to ensure that the machine stays on the ground - even if there is a small bounce. That is because the aircraft is now configured for landing and the engines have been slowed down to 'idle'. The option of 'going around' is not there because it would take the engines anything between 6 and 10 seconds to develop enough power - during which you would be skating and drifting.

Also, as said above, if there is rain on the runway and wind around, the procedure is always to plant the aircraft on the ground to ensure firm contact and get the brakes doing their stuff.

In development, the aircraft will have been deliberately subjected to considerably 'stronger' landings that you and I are likely to encounter. A true 'heavy' landing is rare and the criteria are well documented in other threads.

Nowadays, flights are so (generally) smooth throughout all phases that even slight variations can make pax feel anxious.

I can understand passengers feeling a bit apprehensive throughout a turbulent approach. Concentrates the mind a little for the pilot too but we've all done it many times and the option to go around if things become too severe is always open.
Where you are seated can make a difference to your perception. Sitting right at the rear you are out on the end of a long arm (the fuselage) and any pitching and/or yawing will feel accentuated.
People pay good money for that kind of experience at the fairground but I'd suggest our standard of maintenance is a wee bit better :ok:

With a wet runway my personal sop is the same as everyone else's about planting the airframe firmly to break the water tension to get the rubber working.

But I also add the statement in aloud voice in the flare of.

"Get down you whore"

Works for me and some of the none sweary girls are doing it as well now.

Two landings for the price of one, I wouldn't complain.

mad_jock
I see you skipped the mgmt training course: Politcally Correct Language on the flight deck. :}

Landing
 

I think you meant 'Hard landing'.
A 'Heavy' landing should be avoidable unless returning due to an emergency..

Flying frequently I might get a ripple or two but it's truly been a long time since I experienced a real hard landing, almost a thing of the past...

TW

Don't worry about it, they buff out easily.

http://www.7daysinparadise.com/album...767c.sized.jpg

:O

A good illustration of the problem DaveReidUK. But, surely, that's just a few wrinkles in the wall paper?

I'm sure the crew had wished it was. It was a SkyService 767 that actually wrinkled. It ended up with a class action lawsuit.

Don't recollect using the term 'hard landing'.
It was either a firm landing or, if over 2.1g, a heavy landing which required a heavy landing check of the aircraft.

Just been reminded by a colleague that we DID use the term 'hard landing'. Must have been confused with a different company - or it's early onset dementia. Sorry.