What happened
On April 10, 2017, a Boeing 757-200, registration G-LSAI, operated by Jet2.com, experienced a tailstrike while landing at Alicante-Elche airport, Spain. The flight, which originated from Leeds Bradford Airport, was carrying 238 people, including 8 crew members. The crew on board included a line supervising captain, a line training captain in the observer seat, and a copilot who was undergoing his final evaluation to complete his line training.
During the ILS approach to runway 10, the aircraft maintained stabilized approach parameters. However, during the landing maneuver, the pilot flying (the copilot) initiated an early and prolonged flare. This resulted in a significant increase in pitch attitude. Upon touchdown, the aircraft's pitch continued to increase, reaching approximately 10.2 degrees. This high pitch angle caused the lower part of the tail cone to strike the runway surface. Following the impact, the aircraft experienced a momentary rebound. The supervising captain took control of the aircraft to stabilize the landing, and the crew eventually completed the landing roll without further incident. The crew was unaware of the strike until informed by cabin crew after reaching the parking position.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVARG), as well as the training records of the crew. Analysis of the FDR revealed that the landing flare was performed too early, and the airspeed was not adequately controlled, leading to a touchdown at a lower speed than required. The investigation also noted that the aircraft's pitch increased significantly during the landing phase.
Investigators also reviewed the pilot's training history, noting that the copilot was in the process of completing his line training. The investigation found that the aircraft's nose attitude reached a point where the tail made contact with the runway. The investigation also noted that the crew's response to the bounce was part of the sequence of events leading to the impact.
Results
The investigation concluded that the tail strike was caused by the aircraft's high pitch attitude during the landing phase. The investigation also noted that the crew's actions during the bounce contributed to the event. No injuries were reported following the incident.