Incident Overview
An Airbus A321 sustained a tail strike during the landing sequence. The First Officer (FO) reported that crossing the runway threshold at approximately 50 feet altitude, "it just literally felt like we lost inertia." The Captain assessed that the flare was initiated too late and was incomplete.
Sequence of Events
The FO stated that before touchdown, he lowered the nose slightly, and the aircraft touched down firmly. The aircraft then bounced. Believing a tail strike could occur, the FO again lowered the nose. The Captain recalled that as the nose lowered prior to the second touchdown, he may have pulled back on his side stick controller to prevent the nose gear from striking the runway at excessive speed. After the second touchdown, the tail strike occurred.
Flight Data Recorder Analysis
Data from the aircraft's flight data recorder indicated that both side stick controllers were activated simultaneously during the tail strike. According to the manufacturer, when both side sticks are deflected at least 2 degrees from neutral in the same or opposite directions and neither pilot uses the takeover push button, the system algebraically sums the inputs from both pilots.
Training and Bulletins
Airbus had issued Flight Crew Operating Bulletins addressing bounced landings and tail strikes. However, the pilots stated they received no classroom or simulator training to reinforce the meaning and contents of these bulletins.