Regional Jet 200 ER/LR (CRJ200)
Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification; Other / Unknown
Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft; Inflight Event / Encounter Unstabilized Approach; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach
Weather; Human Factors
We were on final stabilized by 1;000 FT. The winds were reported 270 at 12 gusting to 26 KTS; a strong crosswind from the right. I was flying with the autopilot till about 700 FT AGL. There was a lot of variation in airspeed indication due to the turbulence. I was able to maintain glide path throughout the approach. As we descended through 100 FT; I started to bring the power back. The wind shear and turbulence increased during the flare and we began to drift to the left; that's when I initiated a go around. At that time the Captain had taken control and flew the go around. Because we were in a low energy situation the plane did touch down on the right main landing gear. The undesired aircraft state was in the flare when I was unable to maintain good enough control to make a safe landing. Looking back I think I should have let the Captain take the landing due to the wind shear and turbulence; he having more experience in the aircraft than me.
After getting fully configured for the approach and descending through a 1;000 FT AGL; we were notified by the Tower of a 10 KTS increase reported at 200 FT AGL. We acknowledged and continued. We were constantly on glideslope but with variations in airspeed. The First Officer started to advance the power as if to correct more; but had not said go-around. I then told him to go-around as the right main tires touched down. At this point I took the controls and advanced the thrust levers to go-around; thus becoming the pilot flying. We then circled back to Runway 23 and I performed the landing uneventfully. Upon conducting the post-flight inspection the First Officer informed me that the underside of the wingtip; including the outboard flap; appeared scraped. What I learned in this situation was to perform a go around much sooner due to the turbulent landing conditions so low to the ground. Also; to tell the First Officer that doesn't have as much experience as myself that I will land due to the high workload and very tough environment due to such crosswinds.
A low altitude go-around was initiated during which the right main gear wheels and the right wing tip and flaps contacted the surface when a comparatively inexperienced CRJ-200 First Officer was unable to align with the runway following an approach in a gusty crosswind. The Captain assumed control and returned for an uneventful landing.