Fatal Belly-Landing: Lessons from Jeju Air 7C2216

Context:
A devastating aviation accident occurred recently when Jeju Air Flight 7C2216 attempted a belly-landing at Muan International Airport, South Korea. The aircraft overran the runway, smashed into the perimeter fence, and burst into flames, resulting in the loss of 179 lives. This tragic event highlights the risks and complexities associated with belly-landings and aviation safety.

Understanding Belly-Landing

A belly-landing, also referred to as a gear-up landing, occurs when an aircraft lands without fully extending its landing gear, relying on its underside (or belly) to touch down.

Conditions Leading to Belly-Landings

1. Landing Gear Failure:

   • Mechanical issues prevent the landing gear from deploying.

2. Emergency Landing in a Field:

   • A stricken aircraft may land in a field if it cannot reach an airport.

3. Safety Considerations by the Pilot:

   • Pilots may choose to skid the aircraft to a stop on its belly rather than land on wheels if they determine it to be safer.

4. Ditching (Water Landing):

   • Emergency landings on water, such as in rivers or oceans, often involve belly-landing.

5. Pilot Error:

   • In some cases, pilots forget to deploy the landing gear, leading to a belly-landing.

Safety Precautions During Belly-Landings

1. Emergency Services Preparedness:

   • Fire trucks and rescue teams must be on standby to respond quickly in case of fire or evacuation needs.

2. Foaming the Runway:

   • Historically, chemical foaming of the runway was practiced to suppress sparks and fires. However, this is no longer standard practice due to advances in aircraft fire suppression systems.

Damages to Aircraft in Belly-Landings

1. Structural Damage:

   • Even successful belly-landings result in significant damage to the aircraft’s fuselage, engines, and wings.

2. Wing Vulnerability:

   • Wings are close to the ground during a belly-landing, making them susceptible to damage.
   • A slight left or right bank during landing, caused by wind or pilot error, can cause a wing to hit the ground. This could lead to:
     • The aircraft flipping over.
     • Cartwheeling or breaking apart.

3. Fire Risk:

   • Friction from the aircraft skidding along the runway may generate sparks, potentially causing a fire.

Key Terminologies in Aviation and Belly-Landings

1. Landing Long and Fast:

   • When an aircraft touches down beyond the designated touchdown zone on the runway at speeds exceeding safe limits, leaving insufficient runway length for stopping.

2. Slats:

   • High-lift devices located on the leading edge of the wing that increase lift during low-speed operations like takeoff and landing.

3. Flaps:

   • Devices on the trailing edge of the wing that enhance lift by altering the wing’s camber and surface area.

4. Stall:

   • A condition where the aircraft loses lift and starts descending rapidly, often compared to “dropping like a stone.”

Factors Contributing to the Jeju Air Incident

The Jeju Air 7C2216 accident underscores multiple critical elements of belly-landings and runway safety:

• Landing Beyond the Zone: Likely landing "long and fast," leaving insufficient runway for safe deceleration.
• Skidding Risks: Friction from skidding caused sparks that ignited the aircraft.
• Wing Damage: Possible wing contact with the ground, destabilizing the aircraft and worsening the impact.

Conclusion:
The Jeju Air tragedy is a stark reminder of the inherent risks in aviation, especially during emergency maneuvers like belly-landings. While such landings are sometimes necessary to save lives, they demand meticulous preparation, pilot expertise, and immediate emergency response. Learning from such incidents is essential to improving aviation safety protocols and preventing future accidents.