A B767-300 experiences a tailstrike upon touchdown at sea, wa.

Attributes
ACN	466113
Time
Date	200003
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sea.airport
State Reference	WA
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zbw.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B767-300 and 300 ER
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	landing : roll
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	466113
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 175 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	466120
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical conflict : ground critical other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other other : cab #4
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	other other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

On touchdown with deployment of autospoilers nose pitched up rapidly. Nose was lowered smoothly. However, tailskid light came on and flight attendant reported scraping noise in rear of plane. This was a well flown approach with good airspeed and descent path. Flare was normal and touchdown normal in touchdown zone. No extensive flare or 'float' normal procedures call for 5-6 degrees pitch in flare. I doubt this was exceeded. (Copilot was flying but skilled and experienced.) aircraft manual states 8 degree pitch could cause tailskid contact. This seems like a very slight margin and impossible to monitor in a flare. I would like this event noted in case other pilots have had this experience. Supplemental information from acn 466120: believe spoiler deployment on touchdown pitched the nose up.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B767-300 EXPERIENCES A TAILSTRIKE UPON TOUCHDOWN AT SEA, WA.

Narrative: ON TOUCHDOWN WITH DEPLOYMENT OF AUTOSPOILERS NOSE PITCHED UP RAPIDLY. NOSE WAS LOWERED SMOOTHLY. HOWEVER, TAILSKID LIGHT CAME ON AND FLT ATTENDANT RPTED SCRAPING NOISE IN REAR OF PLANE. THIS WAS A WELL FLOWN APCH WITH GOOD AIRSPD AND DSCNT PATH. FLARE WAS NORMAL AND TOUCHDOWN NORMAL IN TOUCHDOWN ZONE. NO EXTENSIVE FLARE OR 'FLOAT' NORMAL PROCS CALL FOR 5-6 DEGS PITCH IN FLARE. I DOUBT THIS WAS EXCEEDED. (COPLT WAS FLYING BUT SKILLED AND EXPERIENCED.) ACFT MANUAL STATES 8 DEG PITCH COULD CAUSE TAILSKID CONTACT. THIS SEEMS LIKE A VERY SLIGHT MARGIN AND IMPOSSIBLE TO MONITOR IN A FLARE. I WOULD LIKE THIS EVENT NOTED IN CASE OTHER PLTS HAVE HAD THIS EXPERIENCE. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 466120: BELIEVE SPOILER DEPLOYMENT ON TOUCHDOWN PITCHED THE NOSE UP.

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.