Load Factor Penalties

[EHM-1570 Bruce]

I was doing some landing practice in the ATR42 in order to try out my new Saitek X52 joystick, I was running the Flight Logger to monitor the landings, I was getting penalised with high load factor penalties. The approach speed was 120kts, V/S 600ft/min, at the flair the V/S was between 150 and 200ft/min, on running the video I made of the landing, the main gear touched down first then I lowered the nose. I do not know why I received the penalty, what are the criteria for determining the Load Factor Penalties???

[EHM-1617 Iain]

Load factors are to do with G-forces, not touchdown VSI. This is usually caused by sudden changes in pitch - it's the force you feel when you suddenly start climbing or descending and you feel lighter or heavier than normal.

Try to start climbs and descents more gradually. If you are getting this penalty in the flare, then make your flare smoother and less jerky.

Criteria:

1st load factor penalty, exceed 2.5G
2nd (serious) load factor penalty, exceeds 3.5G, aircraft damaged.

[EHM-1570 Bruce]

I am not getting the penalty during the approach, the penalty comes up after I have touched down and the Logger is showing that I have landed.