Tailstrike

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tailstrike is an aviation term that describes an event that occurs during takeoff of an airplane if the pilot pulls up too rapidly, leading to the rear end of the fuselage touching the runway. A tailstrike can also occur during landing if the pilot flares too aggressively. This is often the result of an attempt to land nearer to the runway threshold.

A tailstrike is physically possible only on an aircraft with tricycle landing gear; with a tail dragger configuration, the tail is already on the ground. Some delta wing aircraft, which require a high angle of attack on takeoff, are fitted with small tailwheels to prevent tailstrikes. Examples include the Concorde and Saab Draken. Some airplanes, such as the Diamond Aircraft Industries Diamond Star, have a permanent skid installed to protect the airframe in the event of a tailstrike. Others may be fitted with a temporary skid as tailstrikes are sometimes purposefully carried out during the certification of new airplanes.

Tailstrike incidents rarely cause significant damage or cause danger, but may cause financial losses as the planes have to be thoroughly inspected and repaired.

However, improper repair to the damaged airframe after tailstrikes accidents are responsible for fatal accidents that occur years later (including the worst single aircraft accident as of 2007) due to structural failure of the airframe at the site of the tailstrike after repeated cycles of pressurization and depressurization at the weak point of improper repair.