Date:	Friday 29 November 2013
Time:	09:30
Type:	Bombardier DHC-8-402Q Dash 8
Owner/operator:	ANA Wings
Registration:	JA462A
MSN:	4445
Year of manufacture:	2013
Total airframe hrs:	811 hours
Engine model:	Pratt & Whitney Canada PW150A
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 41
Aircraft damage:	Substantial, repaired
Category:	Accident
Location:	20 km E of Fukue Airport (FUJ) -   Japan
Phase:	Approach
Nature:	Passenger - Scheduled
Departure airport:	Fukuoka Airport (FUK/RJFF)
Destination airport:	Fukue Airport (FUJ/RJFE)
Investigating agency:	JTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
ANA Flight NH4915, operated by ANA Wings, sustained damage in a lightning strike event near Fukue, Japan. There were no injuries.
During the weather briefing prior to departure, the captain and the first officer noted that there was a wintry pressure pattern, a trough accompanied by cold air would pass through western Japan during the morning, there was no specific information indicating the possibility of lightning on the flight planned route of the aircraft.
The DHC-8-400Q turboprop aircraft departed Fukuoka Airport, Japan at 09:03 hours local time on a flight to Fukue Airport. The captain was Pilot Flying.
While the aircraft was cruising at an altitude of 12,000 ft, heading for Fukue Airport, the captain and the first officer visually observed white clouds with a top height of 11,000 ft, on its course. When the aircraft began to descend at around 09:24 in order to approach the airport, the observed clouds were not so thick as could be suspected to cause turbulence or lightning but were displayed on the weather radar display of the aircraft in a green color, indicating an area with weak rainfall. At around 09:30, while descending through the clouds at 5300 ft, the captain and the first officer observed a strong flash of light coming from the left fore side of the cockpit and heard a loud "bang" immediately after that.
Afterwards, the captain and the first officer carried out checks to determine if there were any abnormalities. Although a wind noise was heard from the nose direction, no other abnormalities were identified.
On the final approach to the airport, the aircraft exited the clouds, and landed at the airport at 09:37.
After landing, the captain, the first officer and the mechanic carried out inspections on the aircraft, and consequently, the following were revealed:
- Five dents occurred on the aft side outer skin of the upper left access panel on the nose,
- Six rivet heads on the upper left access panel on the nose were burned, and
- The aft latch of the upper right access panel on the nose, as well as the fore and aft latches of the upper left access panel on the nose were opened.
The Company inspected the details of the damage of the aircraft, and confirmed that deformations had also occurred on the internal structure supporting the rear side outer skin of the upper left access panel on the nose.

PROBABLE CAUSES: "In the accident, it is somewhat likely that the aircraft sustained damage on the aft side outer skin of the upper left access panel on the nose and on the portions of the internal structure supporting the outer skin because it was subjected to a powerful shockwave generated by the discharge of lightning while making a landing approach."

00:08 UTC / 09:08 local time:
RJFE 290008Z 28004G19KT 210V350 9000 SHRA FEW015 SCT025 BKN040 06/05 Q1020 RMK 1CU015 4CU025 6SC040 A3012=

00:28 UTC / 09:28 local time:
RJFE 290028Z 28012KT 250V320 9999 SHRASN FEW015 SCT025 BKN030 06/03 Q1020 RMK 1CU015 4CU025 6CU030 A3013=

00:42 UTC / 09:42 local time:
RJFE 290042Z 26008KT 230V300 9999 FEW015 SCT025 06/04 Q1020 RMK 2CU015 4CU025 A3013=

23:40 UTC / 08:40 local time:
RJFE 282340Z 33005KT 280V010 9999 SHRASN FEW015 SCT025 BKN030 06/04 Q1019 RMK 1CU015 3CU025 6CU030 A3011=

JTSB

photo (c) JTSB; Fukue Airport (FUJ); November 2013

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