Incident Overview
On May 7, 2010, at 1700 UTC, a Boeing 747-400 operated by United Airlines and registered as N128UA sustained a tailstrike while departing from Sydney, Australia. The aircraft incurred minor damage as a result of the occurrence. Following the tailstrike, the flight crew returned the airplane to Sydney Airport, where it landed without further incident. No injuries were reported among occupants.
Aircraft and Operator Information
The aircraft involved was a Boeing 747-400, registration N128UA, operated by United Airlines. The incident occurred during departure from Sydney, Australia, at 1700 UTC on May 7, 2010.
Investigation
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is conducting an investigation into the incident. Under the provisions of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annex 13, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) designated a U.S. Accredited Representative to participate in the ATSB's investigation, as the United States is the state of manufacture of the airplane. All inquiries regarding the incident should be directed to the ATSB.