# NTSB DCA18CA283: Airbus A321-271N, N204HA, Los Angeles, CA, August 13, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 13, 2018, 04:45 local (11:45 UTC) - Place: Los Angeles, CA - Coordinates: 33.941387, -118.40833 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9414&lon=-118.4083&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 197 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - NTSB case key (mKey): 98238 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA18CA283 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98238/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98238 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA18CA283 ## Probable cause a tailstrike caused by inappropriate recovery technique after a bounced landing. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the radio altimeter, caused by the approach being over calm/flat water, that was not recognized by the flight crew. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Flight crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Airbus A321-271N, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=3930910), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Airbus A321-271N, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=3930910), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Indicating/recording systems: central warning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023150): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Airbus A321-271N, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023150/cases.md?model=3930910), [All aircraft, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023150/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Airbus A321-271N, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=3930910), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis On August 13, 2018, about 1645 pacific daylight time, Hawaiian Airlines flight 56, an Airbus A321, N204HA, experienced a tail strike during landing at Los Angeles International Airport (KLAX), Los Angeles, California. There were no injuries to the 197 passengers and crew onboard. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The domestic passenger flight was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 from Kahului Airport (PHOG), Kahului, Hawaii, to KLAX. The first officer (FO) was the pilot flying and the captain was the pilot monitoring. According to the flight crew, they received a GPWS Fail message on the electronic centralized alert monitoring (ECAM) at about 1,500 feet altitude above the ground (agl) after the airplane was established on the ILS 6R approach. The flight crew conducted the appropriate ECAM actions, which only required them to turn off the ground proximity warning system (GPWS) and continued the approach. As the airplane descended through about 50 feet agl, the FO realized the electronic automatic altitude callouts were not being provided by the airplane system but did not have time to react. The airplane touched down firmly, bounced, and the pitch attitude increased before it was arrested by the FO, resulting in the tail section contacting the runway. Post flight examination of the airplane found damage to the aft lower skin, as well as several deformed stringers, tie clips, and frames. During the approach, the crew did not receive any automated altitude callouts that are determined by the radio altimeter (RA). The crew only received the “100 above” and “minimums” callouts, both of which are based on barometric altitude. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed with light winds at the time of the approach resulting in the airplane descending over calm water. In February 2018 (updated on August 6, 2018) the manufacturer released a Flight Operations Transmission (FOT) and an Operations Engineering Bulletin in July 2018 referencing “No RA Available During Approach Over Water”. The FOT indicated that a new RA had abnormal behavior if the airplane approach is over a flat-water area and may not be available. Subsequent to the accident, the operator issued a Memorandum to Pilots that described the circumstances of the accident and the FOT and issued an Operations Engineering Bulletin, which detailed the required procedures if no RA is available. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N204HA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N204HA), registered now, S/N 7959, built 2017 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIRBUS A321-271N (No Series) - Registry model: [Airbus A321-271N](https://openairdocs.org/model/airbus-a321-271n) (registry code 3930910) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [IAE PW1133G-JM](https://openairdocs.org/engine/iae-pw1133g-jm) (registry code 34600, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7959 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PW1133GA-JM 33000 lbs thrust turbo fan; Pratt & Whitney PW1133GA-JM 33000 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Hawaiian Airlines Inc - Registered owner: Hawaiian Airlines Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Departed: PHOG, Maui, HI - Destination: KLAX, Los Angeles, CA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: LAX, Los Angeles International, runway 06R, 10,885 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 3,562 total, 169 in this make and model, 1,058 as pilot in command, 126 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days - Co-pilot; age 45; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 12,700 total, 200 in this make and model, 7,700 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 20180813025289I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180813025289I), Aug 13, 2018: Airbus A321-271N, Los Angeles, CA, Substantial damage. Radar altimeters in this A-321 aircraft had the possibilty of failing during over water approaches. Lax 6R was in use, so a long over water approach at night.… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 13, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98238. 1.2 MB in all. - Other pertinent forms and reports - ha qrh (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 30 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=6944277&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=HA%20A321_QRH_OEB%2055.01A-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12249143&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20for%20DCA18CA283_Redacted-Rel.pdf From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.