Narrative:

Landing at cleveland hopkins on may 1990, copilot was flying approach to runway 28 (6015' long) with gusty x-winds. At 100' AGL, all parameters were 'right on' for a normal landing in the T/D zone and on centerline. At approximately 50' AGL, a high sink rate developed suddenly. Suddenness was suggestive of an abrupt wind/lift change. Airspeed fluctuation, however, was not excessive and remained near normal. I called out 'sink rate', but runway contact occurred almost immediately. The T/D was on speed and on centerline but very 'hard'. This prompted me to request a 'hard landing inspection' at cle. No damage was found. While it is possible a more rapid control reaction could have lessened the magnitude of the runway impact, this incident primarily highlights the unpredictable effects of gusty winds during the flare and T/D.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG HARD LNDG AT CLE IN GUSTY WINDS.

Narrative: LNDG AT CLEVELAND HOPKINS ON MAY 1990, COPLT WAS FLYING APCH TO RWY 28 (6015' LONG) WITH GUSTY X-WINDS. AT 100' AGL, ALL PARAMETERS WERE 'RIGHT ON' FOR A NORMAL LNDG IN THE T/D ZONE AND ON CTRLINE. AT APPROX 50' AGL, A HIGH SINK RATE DEVELOPED SUDDENLY. SUDDENNESS WAS SUGGESTIVE OF AN ABRUPT WIND/LIFT CHANGE. AIRSPD FLUCTUATION, HOWEVER, WAS NOT EXCESSIVE AND REMAINED NEAR NORMAL. I CALLED OUT 'SINK RATE', BUT RWY CONTACT OCCURRED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. THE T/D WAS ON SPD AND ON CTRLINE BUT VERY 'HARD'. THIS PROMPTED ME TO REQUEST A 'HARD LNDG INSPECTION' AT CLE. NO DAMAGE WAS FOUND. WHILE IT IS POSSIBLE A MORE RAPID CTL REACTION COULD HAVE LESSENED THE MAGNITUDE OF THE RWY IMPACT, THIS INCIDENT PRIMARILY HIGHLIGHTS THE UNPREDICTABLE EFFECTS OF GUSTY WINDS DURING THE FLARE AND T/D.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.