Tailstrike facts for kids

A tailstrike happens when the tail end of an airplane touches the runway during takeoff or landing. It's like the plane's tail scrapes the ground. This can cause damage to the aircraft.

Tailstrikes usually don't cause serious harm to people right away. However, they mean that the airline has to spend money to fix the plane. If the plane isn't repaired perfectly, it can lead to bigger problems later, like the metal getting weak. This weakness, called metal fatigue, can be very dangerous and might even cause a plane crash in the future.

How a Tailstrike Happens

A tailstrike can happen in two main situations:

During Takeoff

When an airplane is taking off, the pilot pulls the nose up to lift the plane into the air. This is called "rotating." If the pilot pulls the nose up too much or too early, the tail of the plane can hit the runway. This can also happen if the plane is too heavy or if the runway is too short.

During Landing

When an airplane is landing, the pilot tries to bring the plane down smoothly. If the pilot raises the nose too high just before touching down, or if the plane comes in too fast, the tail can scrape the runway. This is especially true for larger planes that have a long body.

Why Tailstrikes are a Problem

Even though a tailstrike might not seem like a big deal at first, it's important to fix the plane correctly. The tail of an airplane is a very important part of its structure. If it's damaged, even a little bit, it can weaken the plane's body. Over time, this weakness can get worse, especially with many flights. This is why airlines take tailstrikes very seriously and make sure repairs are done perfectly.

Famous Incidents Involving Tailstrikes

Sometimes, tailstrikes have led to very serious accidents later on because the repairs were not done correctly.

Crashes After Incorrect Repairs

• China Airlines Flight 611: In 2002, this plane broke apart in the air. Investigators found that 22 years earlier, the plane had a tailstrike. The repair was not done properly, which caused a crack to grow over time. This crack eventually led to the plane's breakup.
• Japan Airlines Flight 123: In 1985, this plane crashed, killing many people. Years before, it had a tailstrike. The repair was not done to the highest standards. This led to a weakened part of the tail, which failed during the flight and caused the crash.

Other Notable Tailstrike Events

• Asiana Airlines Flight 214: In 2013, this flight had a tailstrike during landing at San Francisco. The plane was badly damaged, but most people survived. This incident showed how dangerous tailstrikes can be, even if they don't lead to a crash right away.

Preventing Tailstrikes

Airlines and pilots work hard to prevent tailstrikes. Pilots are trained to know the correct angles for takeoff and landing. Airplanes also have systems to help pilots avoid these incidents. Some planes even have a small wheel or skid under the tail to help reduce damage if a tailstrike does happen.

Images for kids

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  How a tailstrike happens on landing

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  Tail wheel on an Aermacchi MB-326 to minimise damage caused by tailstrike