Every once in a while.... they are definitely not unheard of...

Hi, everyone,

 

Here are a couple of tail strike reports. The first is a 777 leaving Newark for Hong Kong. I happened to see the track for this flight, COA 99 shortly after the event, and was surprised to see the aircraft performing several loops over Pennsylvania at I believe 14000 ft instead of heading north to Hong Kong:

http://dms.ntsb.gov/aviation/AccidentReports/figzbdff1dtuvsf1bsrui1451/S10142012120000.pdf

 

This one is a tail strike experienced by an A320 upon landing. No explanation of why the alpha protection did not kick in:

http://dms.ntsb.gov/aviation/AccidentReports/lh0irlv1v4jomq45xu1myyar1/B10142012120000.pdf

 

Here is a 757 that also experienced a tail strike on landing.

http://dms.ntsb.gov/aviation/AccidentReports/kzvqomq5msqqcp45lijn34451/B10142012120000.pdf

 

I am surprised that most of the tail strikes I came upon were on landing rather than takeoff -- Until now I didn't worry about it on landing.

 

Mike

Mike, it is easier to avoid on takeoff. Just make sure you dont overrotate. On long planes I have made it a habit to rotate to 10° only initially and continue rotation when positive rate is assured. Nevertheless normal rotation will still give you clearance, and in real planes you even have ground effect helping prevent the strike.

 

On the landing, though, it is just question of overflaring. Easier to do than overrotating, especially in some freak weather conditions, or from ugly approach.

On long planes I have made it a habit to rotate to 10° only initially and continue rotation when positive rate is assured.

 

You may wish to re- consider that ball park 10 degree pitch attitude value...

 

Some examples of 'long planes' for you us to ponder:

 

B737-800 - Tailstrike pitch attitude - 11 degrees

B737-900 - Tailstrike pitch attitude - 10 degrees

 

B777-300 - Tailstrike pitch attitude - 8.9 degrees

B777-300ER - Tailstrike pitch attitude - 10 degrees

 

B747-400 - Tailstrike pitch attitude - 12.5 degrees

 

Ch 3 of the respective airframe FCTMs covers the tailstrike avoidance technique in great depth...you can see a common thread across the different airframes with a few subtle differences for each one.