Incident Overview
On 29 November 2023, a Boeing B747-467F aircraft was involved in a tail strike during takeoff at Frankfurt-Hahn Airport. The incident resulted in no injuries to persons on board or on the ground. The aircraft sustained light damage, and there was no damage to third parties.
Sequence of Events
During the takeoff roll and initial climb, the aircraft's tail contacted the runway surface. The occurrence was classified as a disturbance (Störung) by the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU). The investigation focused on the flight preparation and data entry procedures.
Aircraft Information
The aircraft was a Boeing B747-467F, a freighter variant. Details of its configuration, including weight and balance, were examined as part of the investigation.
Findings
The investigation found that during the flight preparation phase, incorrect data were entered into the Flight Management System via the Multipurpose Control and Display Unit. The resulting takeoff performance calculations led to an inappropriate rotation speed. The aircraft's tail contacted the runway during rotation, causing light structural damage.
No operational or system malfunctions were identified that could have contributed to the event apart from the crew's data entry error.
Meteorological Conditions
Weather conditions at the time were reported via routine meteorological reports (METAR) and were not considered a factor in the occurrence.
Personnel
Both the pilot-in-command and the copilot held valid licenses and had appropriate experience. Their flight duty and rest periods were within regulatory limits, though the investigation considered potential fatigue influences.
Conclusion
The investigation did not assign a probable cause; the report's analysis highlighted that the incorrect data entry led to the tail strike.