West Atlantic is enhancing its crosswind training for pilots following an incident in which an ATR 72 turboprop suffered damage to its nosewheel while landing at East Midlands Airport.
The freighter, G-CLNK (c/n 147), was arriving from Jersey in light winds when it left the centreline and swerved across the paved surface before striking a runway edge light.
According to a report from the UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), the turboprop made a radar-vectored autopilot-coupled approach to Runway 09 under the command of the captain, an experienced pilot who had only recently completed their type conversion from the BAe ATP to the ATR. The reported wind at that time was 150 degrees at 10kts.
The pilot flying (PF) stabilised the approach by 1,000ft altitude and then established the aircraft with a slight crab into wind and power set at 25% torque. The autopilot was disengaged during the latter stages, and then the crab removed during the flare so the aircraft touched down aligned with the runway.
Once all wheels were on the ground, the PF selected ground idle and, as the aircraft decelerated through 80kts, it began to swerve to the right. The commander handed control to the co-pilot and steered the nosewheel left via …
