What happened
On March 5, 2013, an Airbus A330-300 operated by a German airline was performing a scheduled flight from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Munich. Prior to departure, the aircraft underwent de-icing procedures due to recent snowfall in the area. During the takeoff roll on runway 32R, the aircraft reached its rotation speed of 150 knots.
As the aircraft rotated, the rear fuselage made contact with the runway surface, resulting in a tailstrike. During the initial climb, a flight attendant reported hearing an unusual noise coming from the aft galley area. While the flight crew did not immediately perceive the impact, an analysis of flight data confirmed the contact. Following a review of the aircraft data and consultation with the airline's maintenance department, the crew elected to continue the flight to Munich. The aircraft sustained heavy damage to the underside of the tail cone, including abrasions, scratches, and denting of the fuselage skin and internal structural components.
The investigation
The BFU investigation, conducted in coordination with the NTSB, analyzed Flight Data Recorder (FDR) information to reconstruct the rotation dynamics. The investigation focused on the aircraft's pitch rate, configuration, and mechanical condition. Investigators examined the aircraft's center of gravity (CG) and trim settings, as well as the performance of the landing gear shock absorbers. The investigation also reviewed the airline's operational manuals regarding rotation techniques and flap configurations.
Findings
The investigation established that the tailstrike was caused by a combination of several contributing factors that collectively reduced the aircraft's tail clearance. The primary causal factor was a high rotation rate, which reached a maximum of 4.2°/sec, exceeding the manufacturer's recommended range of 2 to 3°/sec.
Other contributing factors included:
- The specific flap configuration used during takeoff.
- An aft-heavy pitch trim setting and CG position.
- Reduced strut extension of the main landing gear due to insufficient gas pressure in the shock absorbers.
While each factor individually would have been within tolerable limits, their simultaneous presence led to the impact.