MD80 HAS TAIL STRIKE ON LNDG.

Narrative

I WAS THE PF ON AN MD80 FROM SAN TO SJC. I EXECUTED A STABILIZED VISUAL APCH TO A NORMAL LNDG ON RWY 30L IN SJC. AFTER SHUTDOWN AT THE GATE; OUR MECHS WERE TOLD BY OUR OPS THAT THE SJC TWR CALLED AND RPTED SPARKS FROM MY TAIL SECTION UPON TOUCHDOWN. THE INCIDENT WAS RECORDED IN THE LOGBOOK; MECHS INSPECTED THE TAIL SECTION; PARTICULARLY THE BUMPER; AND FOUND THAT IT WAS SCRAPED. HOWEVER; THE DEVICE WHICH INDICATES A STRIKE HAS OCCURRED PROVED NO DAMAGE HAD OCCURRED. THE MD80 HAS AN INDICATOR SAFETY WIRED TO SHOW WHEN A STRIKE HAS OCCURRED. THIS (THE SAFETY WIRE) WAS NOT BROKEN! BY ALL COUNTS FROM MY CAPT; CREW; AND DEPLANING PAX; A NICE; SMOOTH; NORMAL LNDG HAD OCCURRED. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATES THAT THE INSPECTION SHOWED THE BUMPER WAS SCRAPED; THE SAFETY WIRE WAS NOT BROKEN. HE WAS GIVEN 1 1/2 HRS OF TRAINING AND THE INCIDENT WAS CLOSED. THE BUMPER WAS REMOVED AND REPLACED AND ALL BUMPERS ARE NOW PAINTED RED SO IT IS EASIER TO DETECT THE TAIL STRIKE. RPTR BELIEVES PART OF THE PROB MAY HAVE BEEN HIS SEAT POS. IT WAS SET UP 1 NOTCH HIGHER THAN USUAL. ADDED TO THAT WAS A NEW COMPANY PRACTICE THAT REQUIRES FLAP 40 LNDGS TO TRY TO ELIMINATE FOREIGN OBJECT DAMAGE IN THE ENGS. HE WAS USED TO FLAP 28 LNDGS AND FEELS THIS MAY HAVE AFFECTED THE SIT AS WELL. INTERESTED TO KNOW HOW MANY OTHER RPTS WE HAVE HAD OF MD80 TAIL STRIKES.