Dash 8-400
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Distraction; Confusion; Training / Qualification; Time Pressure; Communication Breakdown
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; General Maintenance Action
Human Factors; Procedure
I was performing IOE; the IOE Captain was the PF and has had 33 hours of OE. I requested Runway 31 for a visual approach. The IOE Captain got a little behind the aircraft on initial approach; but was stable by 1;000 FT on speed. As we approached for landing around 100 FT the IOE Captain's pitch became a little high and I called pitch; no correction I again called pitch and the IOE Captain reduced power and increased pitch instead of increasing power and lowering the nose. At this point (very close to the runway and a pitch attitude above 6 degrees) I had no choice; but to push the nose forward. Once feeling me push the nose of the aircraft forward the IOE Captain let go of the controls allowing the aircraft to contact the ground very hard! I took the controls and got the aircraft under control; at 60 KTS I gave the controls back to him and told him he had a blown nose tire and to exit the runway very slowly and to stop once clear. I contacted Maintenance Control and asked if we could taxi to the gate with 1 nose tire. Maintenance Control told me it was OK to taxi in on one tire; but to do so very slowly. The IOE Captain taxied the aircraft into the gate; where on post flight inspection I saw the blown tire. The IOE Captain never got off the aircraft to look and showed little concern for the aircraft. Maintenance came out to the aircraft and changed the tire. Neither Maintenance nor my self discovered the severity of the damage to the nose strut until it was brought to my attention with pictures today in a conversation with our fleet Manager. I truly feel had I not pushed the nose forward we would have struck the tail of the aircraft and caused much worse damage.I am sickened that an aircraft was damaged under my supervision; but stand by my decision. One call for a pitch correction then take the controls and correct the situation.
During an approach; a DHC 8-400 IOE Captain allowed the aircraft's pitch to get excessively high and after assistance from the Check Airman he released the yoke which caused a blown tire and nose strut damage during the hard landing.