Air carrier large transport tail strike on takeoff from dtw.

Attributes
ACN	197739
Time
Date	199112
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dtw
State Reference	MI
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 16000 flight time type : 2300
ASRS Report	197739
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

When cleared for takeoff on runway 21C at dtw our takeoff roll was begun as an medium large transport rotated on the same runway and at derate 1 power we made a normal takeoff roll in little or no wind conditions with a rotation at proper rotation speed at a normal rate of rotation to the chart pitch attitude. Rotation occurred at the intersection of runway 9/27 and upon rotation an audible bump was heard and felt. Upon evaluation of the procedures used we discounted the possibility of a tail strike and assumed that either as a result of our location at the intersection our struts struck the crest of runway 9/27, or that there was disturbed airflow or something causing a slight settling right at rotation causing main struts to be jarred. In my experience flying the large transport I have always been consistent with my procedures and technique with rotating the aircraft always aware of the dangers of too high a rate of rotation. This takeoff was no different yet we struck the tail. I can only surmise that some external forces beyond our control or ability to influence them conspired to create this incident. Believing there was no reason to take further action we continued on to our destination.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR LGT TAIL STRIKE ON TKOF FROM DTW.

Narrative: WHEN CLRED FOR TKOF ON RWY 21C AT DTW OUR TKOF ROLL WAS BEGUN AS AN MLG ROTATED ON THE SAME RWY AND AT DERATE 1 PWR WE MADE A NORMAL TKOF ROLL IN LITTLE OR NO WIND CONDITIONS WITH A ROTATION AT PROPER ROTATION SPD AT A NORMAL RATE OF ROTATION TO THE CHART PITCH ATTITUDE. ROTATION OCCURRED AT THE INTXN OF RWY 9/27 AND UPON ROTATION AN AUDIBLE BUMP WAS HEARD AND FELT. UPON EVALUATION OF THE PROCS USED WE DISCOUNTED THE POSSIBILITY OF A TAIL STRIKE AND ASSUMED THAT EITHER AS A RESULT OF OUR LOCATION AT THE INTXN OUR STRUTS STRUCK THE CREST OF RWY 9/27, OR THAT THERE WAS DISTURBED AIRFLOW OR SOMETHING CAUSING A SLIGHT SETTLING RIGHT AT ROTATION CAUSING MAIN STRUTS TO BE JARRED. IN MY EXPERIENCE FLYING THE LGT I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN CONSISTENT WITH MY PROCS AND TECHNIQUE WITH ROTATING THE ACFT ALWAYS AWARE OF THE DANGERS OF TOO HIGH A RATE OF ROTATION. THIS TKOF WAS NO DIFFERENT YET WE STRUCK THE TAIL. I CAN ONLY SURMISE THAT SOME EXTERNAL FORCES BEYOND OUR CTL OR ABILITY TO INFLUENCE THEM CONSPIRED TO CREATE THIS INCIDENT. BELIEVING THERE WAS NO REASON TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION WE CONTINUED ON TO OUR DEST.

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.