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| Title: | Tailstrike on takeoff, Boeing 757-204, G-BYAO |
| Micro summary: | Following a high rate of rotation, this Boeing 757-204 experienced a tailstrike and diversion. |
| Event Time: | 2005-05-12 at 1648 |
| File Name: | 2005-05-12-UK.pdf |
| Publishing Agency: | Aircraft Accident Investigation Board (AAIB) |
| Publishing Country: | United Kingdom |
| Report number: | EW/C2005/05/02 |
| Pages: | 12 |
| Site of event: | Manchester Airport |
| Departure: | Manchester International Airport, Manchester, England |
| Destination: | Gran Canaria (Las Palmas) International Airport, Gran Canaria Island, Spain |
| Airplane Type(s): | Boeing 757-204 |
| Flight Phase: | Takeoff |
| Registration(s): | G-BYAO |
| Operator(s): | Thomsonfly |
| Type of flight: | Revenue |
| Occupants: | 242 |
| Fatalities: | 0 |
| Serious Injuries: | 0 |
| Minor/Non-Injured: | 242 |
| Other Injuries: | 0 |
| Executive Summary: | The aircraft was departing on a flight to Gran Canaria with the co-pilot handling the flight controls. During the takeoff, staff in the airfield’s ATC tower and the crew of another aircraft, which was stationary at a holding point on the aerodrome, saw a significant amount of smoke emanate from the rear of the aircraft as it lifted off the runway. At the same time the crew in the aircraft heard a noise and felt a slight bump. The commander advised ATC that they thought that they had suffered a tailstrike and intended to return to the airfield. The aircraft made a gentle, uneventful landing back at Manchester, 12 tonnes over the maximum landing weight, and used the full length of the runway to minimise the load on the brakes. The tailstrike was the result of an excessive rate of rotation during the takeoff. This was exacerbated by a variable headwind component which contributed to a lift off speed that was lower than intended by the manufacturer and compounded the loss of tail clearance. The operator has since amended its procedures to ensure better flying continuity and guidance for newly trained co-pilots, and the inclusion in he company operations manual of the advice given in the Boeing 757 Flight Crew Training Manual on the subject of takeoffs in Gusty Wind and Strong Crosswind Conditions. |
| Learning Keywords: | Operations - Tailstrike |
| Consequence - Damage - Airframe or fuselage |
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