Incident Overview
A student pilot was cleared to perform a touch-and-go landing on runway 21. During the landing, the pilot observed that the arresting barrier cable was raised. To avoid hitting the cable, the pilot applied full power and pulled back on the yoke. The aircraft lifted off, but its tail struck the cable.
Subsequent Actions
Unaware of any damage at the time, the pilot continued flying and executed a go-around. The pilot then notified tower personnel that the barrier cable was raised, and the tower subsequently lowered the cable.
Post-Landing Inspection
After landing, an inspection of the aircraft revealed that the tail tie-down was missing and the rear bulkhead was partially ripped out and bent against the rudder.
Regulatory Context
The ATC handbook required tower personnel to keep the arresting gear in the retracted or down position for normal operations.