Hard landing in an A300 during approach and landing procedure. Automatic land in use.

Attributes
ACN	345520
Time
Date	199607
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ord
State Reference	IL
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 100
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	345520
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other anomaly other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

The flight was delayed in mia for WX in ord. Leaving mia we received several WX reroutes. After several holds and receiving another reroute, we were forced to land in stl for fuel. Spending several hours in stl we departed for ord. The WX in the area was bad, but acceptable at the airport. Ord was utilizing a CAT 3 runway and, even though it was not required, I elected to utilize the aircraft automatic land feature. I briefed the first officer. I set up the aircraft for this type approach, with all system apparently operating normally. The approach was normal down to below 100 ft where we experienced an abrupt nose down. I manually took control, but a hard landing resulted. I assumed the autoplt was to blame. Upon reflection, I considered we were caught in a down draft from one of the many thunderstorms in the area. When something like this happens, you have very little time to react. I was using the automatic land feature because I thought it would be easier after a very long day. In the future, I will not use this because I know my capabilities and do not have to second guess. At the end of a very long day, I recommend using what you are sure of, your own knowledge and skills.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HARD LNDG IN AN A300 DURING APCH AND LNDG PROC. AUTO LAND IN USE.

Narrative: THE FLT WAS DELAYED IN MIA FOR WX IN ORD. LEAVING MIA WE RECEIVED SEVERAL WX REROUTES. AFTER SEVERAL HOLDS AND RECEIVING ANOTHER REROUTE, WE WERE FORCED TO LAND IN STL FOR FUEL. SPENDING SEVERAL HRS IN STL WE DEPARTED FOR ORD. THE WX IN THE AREA WAS BAD, BUT ACCEPTABLE AT THE ARPT. ORD WAS UTILIZING A CAT 3 RWY AND, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NOT REQUIRED, I ELECTED TO UTILIZE THE ACFT AUTO LAND FEATURE. I BRIEFED THE FO. I SET UP THE ACFT FOR THIS TYPE APCH, WITH ALL SYS APPARENTLY OPERATING NORMALLY. THE APCH WAS NORMAL DOWN TO BELOW 100 FT WHERE WE EXPERIENCED AN ABRUPT NOSE DOWN. I MANUALLY TOOK CTL, BUT A HARD LNDG RESULTED. I ASSUMED THE AUTOPLT WAS TO BLAME. UPON REFLECTION, I CONSIDERED WE WERE CAUGHT IN A DOWN DRAFT FROM ONE OF THE MANY TSTMS IN THE AREA. WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS, YOU HAVE VERY LITTLE TIME TO REACT. I WAS USING THE AUTO LAND FEATURE BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE EASIER AFTER A VERY LONG DAY. IN THE FUTURE, I WILL NOT USE THIS BECAUSE I KNOW MY CAPABILITIES AND DO NOT HAVE TO SECOND GUESS. AT THE END OF A VERY LONG DAY, I RECOMMEND USING WHAT YOU ARE SURE OF, YOUR OWN KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS.

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.