Late flare also contributed to high descent rate and hard landing at Paderborn.
German investigators have determined that an Airbus A320 tail-strike at Paderborn was preceded by a shift in wind that increased the descent rate just before touchdown.
The Eurowings aircraft’s approach path to runway 24 had been slightly above the ILS glideslope at 300ft, and the first officer, who was flying, was instructed to “keep sinking” by the captain.
Although the first officer brought the aircraft back onto the glideslope, the rate of descent “remained at an elevated level”, says German investigation authority BFU in its conclusions about the event on 22 May last year.
As the A320 descended through 80ft the wind component switched from a 9kt headwind to a 3kt tailwind — resulting in a sudden reduction of lift.
The first officer initiated the flare at 20ft, rather than the typical 30ft, and the captain intervened with simultaneous sidestick input in an effort to reduce the descent rate.
BFU says the sidestick priority button was not pressed. The dual control started at about 15ft and lasted for 6s, with inputs up to full deflection applied.
Although the descent rate slowed from 800ft/min to 600ft/min, the aircraft landed hard, with a 2.26g impact. The spoilers extended and exacerbated the pitch-up effect, causing the aircraft’s tail to strike the runway surface.
BFU says the pitch reached 13.4° nose-up. The A320’s limit to avoid a tail-strike is 11.7° with landing-gear fully compressed, and 13.5° with landing-gear extended.
The crew conducted a go-around and landed without further incident.
BFU says the jet sustained surface damage to its outer underside fuselage skin, as well as the drain masts of the auxiliary power unit and waste water system, but no structural damage was found.
None of the 121 passengers and six crew members was injured.
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