Activation of the ELT and/or aircraft emergency light system illumination after landing may indicate a landing that exceeded what fpm rate of descent?

• A. 600 ft/min
• B. 500 ft/min
• C. 700 ft/min
• D. 900 ft/min

Answer: (A)

Activation of the ELT and emergency lighting after landing signals a hard landing, which is defined by the touchdown vertical velocity exceeding a specific threshold. In this aircraft, that threshold is 600 feet per minute. If the descent rate at touchdown goes above 600 fpm, the touchdown sensors trigger the ELT or emergency lights to indicate the abnormal impact. This helps alert the crew and maintenance to inspect for potential damage. Rates well above or below this value aren’t the standard trigger for this system, with 600 fpm being the recognized limit for a hard landing.