ANA 787-9 tail-strike in Houston linked to accidental go-around activation

US investigators have determined that a Boeing 787-9 captain accidentally hit the take-off/go-around switch during touchdown at Houston, pitching the aircraft up and striking its tail. The All Nippon Airways twinjet was arriving from Tokyo Haneda on 27 February and had conducted a Category III autoland approach to runway 26L in fog.

The captain, who was flying, said his focus stayed on the head-up display because visibility was poor. He confirmed thrust levers were at idle and speedbrakes deployed on touchdown. As he reached to raise the thrust reversers, the nose rose unexpectedly, hitting 7.5 degrees pitch before he shifted his eyes to the primary flight display.

Recorded flight data showed the autopilot pitch and autothrottle were in flare mode at touchdown. About half a second later, the take-off/go-around switch was pressed. The autopilot modes transitioned to go-around, but the autothrottle change was cancelled when the levers were moved to reverse thrust. The autopilot pitch mode commanded a go-around target, increasing nose-up pitch from 3.5 to 7.4 degrees over two seconds.

About five seconds after go-around mode activated, the captain made a nose-down control column input. He stated he forcefully pushed the column forward with both hands to disengage the autopilot, thinking the situation was bad. The National Transportation Safety Board disclosed these findings from its investigation.