Air carrier medium large transport tail strike during takeoff.

Attributes
ACN	162537
Time
Date	199011
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : atl
State Reference	GA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 140 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	162537
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 16000
ASRS Report	162038
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During 5 degree flap takeoff, and acting as first officer, PF which was myself inadvertently scraped the tailskid on a medium large transport during rotation. Post-flight inspection confirmed this, however indicator on tailskid was still in the normal position. In retrospect, I obviously over rotated slightly prior to becoming airborne. Although the rotation rate and attitude seemed normal to both flight crew members, it apparently was a little over zealous. New skid plate was placed on aircraft, and aircraft was then returned to service. I believe a contributing factor was the fact that this was only my third takeoff during line operations in the preceeding 4 weeks. First 5 degree flaps takeoff in last 4-5 weeks. Should have briefed possibility of over rotation during a 5 degree versus 15 degree flap takeoff. Also, should have made a more conscious effort to slow rotation, especially considering runway length, winds, and WX were all favorable. Supplemental information from acn 162038. Atl tower reported sparks were seen at rear of act at time of rotation. F/as did not state anything unusual about the takeoff until takeoff plus 45 mins when a F/a visited the cockpit offering beverages.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG TAIL STRIKE DURING TKOF.

Narrative: DURING 5 DEG FLAP TKOF, AND ACTING AS F/O, PF WHICH WAS MYSELF INADVERTENTLY SCRAPED THE TAILSKID ON A MLG DURING ROTATION. POST-FLT INSPECTION CONFIRMED THIS, HOWEVER INDICATOR ON TAILSKID WAS STILL IN THE NORMAL POS. IN RETROSPECT, I OBVIOUSLY OVER ROTATED SLIGHTLY PRIOR TO BECOMING AIRBORNE. ALTHOUGH THE ROTATION RATE AND ATTITUDE SEEMED NORMAL TO BOTH FLT CREW MEMBERS, IT APPARENTLY WAS A LITTLE OVER ZEALOUS. NEW SKID PLATE WAS PLACED ON ACFT, AND ACFT WAS THEN RETURNED TO SVC. I BELIEVE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE FACT THAT THIS WAS ONLY MY THIRD TKOF DURING LINE OPS IN THE PRECEEDING 4 WKS. FIRST 5 DEG FLAPS TKOF IN LAST 4-5 WKS. SHOULD HAVE BRIEFED POSSIBILITY OF OVER ROTATION DURING A 5 DEG VERSUS 15 DEG FLAP TKOF. ALSO, SHOULD HAVE MADE A MORE CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO SLOW ROTATION, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING RWY LENGTH, WINDS, AND WX WERE ALL FAVORABLE. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 162038. ATL TWR RPTED SPARKS WERE SEEN AT REAR OF ACT AT TIME OF ROTATION. F/AS DID NOT STATE ANYTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT THE TKOF UNTIL TKOF PLUS 45 MINS WHEN A F/A VISITED THE COCKPIT OFFERING BEVERAGES.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.