What happened
On 9 January 2017, a DHC-8-402 Dash 8, registration G-ECOJ, was conducting a scheduled passenger flight from Southampton to Newcastle. During the final stages of the landing approach to Runway 25, the aircraft was flying with the autopilot engaged and using a Flap 15 configuration.
At approximately 100 ft above the ground, the pilot flying reduced engine torque from 15% to 8%. This reduction in power led to a loss of airspeed and an increase in the aircraft's descent rate. As the aircraft's pitch attitude rose from 3.7° to 7.6°, the commander noticed the sinking motion and instructed the co-pilot to increase power. However, the commander's own attempt to advance the power levers occurred only 8 ft above the runway. The aircraft subsequently touched down and bounced, resulting in the rear fuselage making contact with the runway. The incident caused minor injuries to one crew member and damage to the tailstrike sensor fairing, though no passengers were injured.
The investigation
The AAIB examined the flight data, aircraft maintenance records, and the operator's standard operating procedures. The investigation focused on the energy state of the aircraft during the flare and the impact of power management on the high-wing configuration of the DHC-8-402 Dash 8. Investigators also reviewed the manufacturer's previous guidance regarding pitch attitude awareness and the specific risks associated with using Flap 15 settings, which provide a narrow margin between a normal touchdown and a tail strike.
Findings
- The primary cause of the tail strike was an inappropriate reduction in engine power during the final approach, which placed the aircraft in a low-energy state.
- The pilot flying reacted to the increasing sink rate by increasing the nose-up pitch attitude rather than using power to control the descent rate.
- The reduction in torque below the recommended 15% threshold directly decreased lift due to the effect of power settings on airflow over the wing.
- The commander's intervention to increase power was not timely enough to prevent the contact with the runway.