What happened
On 14 June 2004, an Airbus A321-231, registration G-OZBE, operated by Monarch Airways, arrived at Faro Airport from London Gatwick. The flight was a line training sector for a new first officer, who was acting as the pilot flying (PF) throughout the operation.
The approach was conducted manually under visual meteorological conditions. Upon touchdown on Runway 2/28, the ground spoilers deployed, and while the aircraft's pitch attitude initially began to reduce, the nose suddenly reared up. Although the commander attempted to take control and apply nose-down input, the aircraft's tail struck the runway. The incident resulted in structural damage to the lower fuselage and the galley/lavatory drain mast, but there were no injuries to the 33 passengers or the 7 crew members on board.
The investigation
The GPIAAF investigation examined the flight data recorder (DFDR) and the aircraft's technical records. Analysis of the DFDR revealed that the flare was initiated at 50 feet with a sharp nose-up side-stick input. Just prior to the main gear touchdown, the pilot flying applied a full aft side-stick input of -16 degrees.
Investigators also reviewed the training background of the first officer, noting that while he was making good progress in his training syllabus, he had previously demonstrated a tendency toward nose wheel de-rotation during landings. The investigation also considered the characteristics of the Airbus fly-by-wire system, specifically how side-stick inputs from different pilots are additive and how the lack of physical linkage can make it difficult for the pilot not flying (PNF) to monitor or correct inputs during the critical landing phase.
Findings
- The manual approach was established correctly.
- The pilot flying applied full aft side-stick input at the moment of touchdown.
- This significant nose-up demand, occurring simultaneously with the extension of the ground spoilers, caused the aircraft's pitch attitude to rise rapidly to approximately 9.9 degrees.
- The aircraft's pitch exceeded its geometric clearance limits, leading to the tail strike.
- The commander's attempt to intervene occurred too late to prevent the contact.