Date:	Saturday 6 November 2021
Time:	12:57
Type:	Airbus A350-941
Owner/operator:	Ethiopian Airlines
Registration:	ET-AYB
MSN:	412
Year of manufacture:	2020
Engine model:	Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-84
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 80
Aircraft damage:	Minor, repaired
Category:	Serious incident
Location:	Johannesburg-O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) -   South Africa
Phase:	Landing
Nature:	Passenger - Scheduled
Departure airport:	Addis Ababa-Bole Airport (ADD/HAAB)
Destination airport:	Johannesburg-O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB/FAOR)
Investigating agency:	CAA S.A.
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
Ethiopian Airlines flight ET809, an Airbus A350-941, suffered an accident during an attempted landing at Johannesburg-O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), South Africa.
The flight was cleared to land on runway 03R. The aircraft reportedly touched down at 10:57 UTC, and immediately a go around was initiated. The aircraft banked right, causing the right hand wing tip to scrape the runway. The A350 climbed while diverging to the right from the runway centreline.
The aircraft circled and was subsequently cleared to land on runway 03L. A safe landing was performed at 11:15 UTC.
The return flight was cancelled and the aircraft remained at JNB.

Probable cause:
The pilot applied excessive right rudder input whilst attempting to align to the runway centreline, which caused the aircraft to over-drift to the right and experience a significant sideslip build-up and roll departure on the right.
Subsequently, the right-wing tip contacted the runway despite the left sidestick input.

Contributory factors:
- There was a left crosswind component which reduced closer to the ground.
- Early flare initiation caused the aircraft to float over the runway, and thus, the aircraft missed the touchdown zone.
- No evidence of wind shear even though the pilot stated its presence.

10:00 UTC / 12:00 local time:
FAOR 061000Z 34017KT CAVOK 27/11 Q1021 NOSIG

11:00 UTC / 13:00 local time:
FAOR 061100Z 32016KT 280V340 9999 FEW045 28/11 Q1021 NOSIG

12:00 UTC / 14:00 local time:
FAOR 061200Z 32015KT 290V350 9999 FEW045 29/11 Q1020 NOSIG

CAA S.A.
Flightaware

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