What happened
On 19 July 2015, an Airbus A321-231, registration G-EUXF, was performing a commercial passenger flight into Glasgow Airport. During the landing on Runway 23, the co-pilot, acting as the pilot flying, initiated the flare with a progressive aft sidestick input. This input was maintained throughout the landing phase.
The aircraft experienced a firm initial touchdown with a pitch attitude of 7.4°. Following this, the aircraft briefly bounced, and the nose-up pitch continued to increase. As the ground spoilers deployed, the pitch reached a maximum of 9.5°. This resulted in the aft fuselage and the galley drain mast making contact with the runway surface. The flight crew did not realize a tailstrike had occurred until the aircraft was parked at the stand and the damage was identified by ground personnel.
The investigation
The AAIB examined flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder information, which revealed that the aircraft's airspeed had decayed below the target approach speed toward the lowest selectable speed (VLS) prior to touchdown. The investigation also reviewed the aircraft's configuration, noting that the necessary software modifications to limit commanded pitch attitude on the ground had not been implemented on this specific airframe.
Investigators also looked into the crew's monitoring procedures. While the operator's standard operating procedures require the pilot monitoring to announce if the pitch exceeds 7.5°, this callout did not occur in time to prevent the impact. Furthermore, the commander's attention may have been diverted while attempting to locate the thrust levers to select reverse thrust.
Findings
- The aircraft's airspeed had reduced below the target speed, resulting in a lower energy state than typical landings.
- The initial flare input was insufficient to sufficiently alter the flightpath, leading to a firm touchdown.
- The continued aft sidestick input after the first touchdown caused the pitch attitude to increase significantly during the bounce.
- The aircraft lacked the latest manufacturer-recommended software enhancements designed to limit pitch attitude on the ground.
- The crew did not perceive that a bounce had occurred during the landing sequence.