AN ACR MLG PIC SUFFERS A TAIL STRIKE ON TKOF. THE FO FAILS IN ALL OF HIS CRM EFFORTS TO GET THE PIC TO RETURN LAND FOR INSPECTION. AT DEST ARPT THE FO HAS TO FINALLY GET MAINT INVOLVED FOR THE CAPT TO WRITE UP THE TAIL STRIKE. CAPT NOW ON SUSPENSION FROM COMPANY.

Date: 1998-05 · Aircraft: Commercial Fixed Wing · Phase: takeoff

Anomalies: aircraft-equipment-problem-less-severe|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-far|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-published-material-policy|other-unspecified

Synopsis

AN ACR MLG PIC SUFFERS A TAIL STRIKE ON TKOF. THE FO FAILS IN ALL OF HIS CRM EFFORTS TO GET THE PIC TO RETURN LAND FOR INSPECTION. AT DEST ARPT THE FO HAS TO FINALLY GET MAINT INVOLVED FOR THE CAPT TO WRITE UP THE TAIL STRIKE. CAPT NOW ON SUSPENSION FROM COMPANY.

Narrative

CAPT WAS PF. NORMAL ROTATION RATE. ACFT CONTINUED TO ROTATE; TAILSKID STRUCK RWY PRIOR TO LIFTOFF. GOT OUT 'NON NORMAL CHKLIST' (QRH) AND INFORMED CAPT OF PROC: DEPRESSURIZE; RETURN FOR LNDG. BUT CAPT DECIDED TO PRESS ON. MADE A VERY STRONG CASE FOR RETURN BUT WAS OVERRULED BY CAPT. UPON LNDG AT DET; BOTH CAPT AND I INSPECTED TAILSKID. FOUND DAMAGE. CAPT WANTED TO LEAVE. I RPTED INCIDENT TO MAINT. MAINT PERSONNEL INSPECTED ACFT AND ADVISED ME TO FIND CAPT TO FORCE HIM TO RPT INCIDENT. CAPT MADE SERIOUS JUDGEMENT ERRORS; REFUSED INPUT FROM FO; VIOLATED COMPANY SOP'S; IGNORED NON NORMAL CHKLIST ITEMS. I WAS FORCED TO RPT THE INCIDENT TO OPS DIRECTOR TO FIX THE ISSUE. CAPT IS NOW ON SUSPENSION FROM COMPANY DUTIES. DIRECTOR OF OPS ASSURED ME THAT I WAS NOT AT FAULT; AND THAT I DID EVERYTHING SHORT OF TAKING THE CTLS TO PERSUADE CAPT THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO CONTINUE THE FLT. CAPT IS NORMALLY A VERY SAFE; CONSCIENTIOUS PLT WHO USES SOP'S AND FOLLOWS GOOD CRM. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 403144: DURING ROTATION IN EWR; FELT ACFT SETTLE BACK ON RWY. MYSELF AND FO CONCLUDED NO DAMAGE TO ACFT SO WE CONTINUED TO DEST; DET. ON GND IN DET; WE DISCOVERED SCUFF ON TAILSKID. I USED BAD JUDGEMENT AND DID NOT WRITE UP SCUFF; LEAVING MAINT TO WRITE UP. DO NOT KNOW CAUSE; BUT IN FUTURE; WOULD SIMPLY RETURN TO ORIGIN ARPT FOR VISUAL INSPECTION.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.