What happened
On a flight from Toronto to Halifax, a Boeing 767-375 operated by Canadian Airlines International experienced a tail strike upon landing at Halifax International Airport. The aircraft was performing a non-precision localizer back-course approach to runway 06. During the landing roll, the crew noticed the tail skid light was illuminated, and subsequent inspection revealed significant damage to the tail skid and the aft fuselage.
While the flight itself was routine, the crew managed a minor malfunction involving a pack trip valve earlier in the flight. During the approach, the crew noted intermittent left engine bleed air warnings. The landing occurred on a runway surface covered in ice and light snow, which led the captain to select a maximum auto braking setting to ensure the aircraft could stop safely.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight path, aircraft performance, and environmental conditions. It was established that the aircraft was landing with a forward center of gravity, which increased the aircraft's body angle during approach. The investigation also looked into the crew's use of lateral and vertical navigation (LNAV/VNAV) procedures and the impact of the runway's physical characteristics.
Investigators found that the aircraft's approach speed was lower than normal, further contributing to a higher nose-up attitude. Additionally, the investigation reviewed the crew's training records, noting that the captain had not performed a localizer back-course approach for several years and had previously experienced difficulties with such approaches in training. The investigation also noted that the crew had not received formal Crew Resource Management (CRM) training.
Findings
- The tail strike was caused by the crew responding to a visual illusion with an unwarranted reduction in engine power between the minimum descent altitude and touchdown.
- An upslope illusion on the runway led the crew to believe the aircraft was higher than its actual altitude.
- The crew failed to respond to the precision approach path indicator (PAPI) cues, which indicated the aircraft was too low.
- The captain was preoccupied with the challenges of stopping on a slippery runway.
- A loss of aircraft performance occurred below 400 feet agl, though the cause remains undetermined.
- The aircraft's forward center of gravity and lower approach speed resulted in an increased body angle.
- The use of LNAV/VNAV procedures contributed to the flight path deviation.
- There were no charts available to the crew to calculate the impact of the runway friction coefficient (JBI) on landing distance.