Narrative:
US Airways flight 1733, an Airbus A321-231, experienced a tail strike while landing on runway 25L at McCarran International Airport (LAS), Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. The airplane incurred substantial damage and there were no injuries to the 192 occupants. The captain was the pilot flying and the first officer was the pilot monitoring. According to flight crew statements, the takeoff, climb, cruise and descent were uneventful. Prior to descent, the captain briefed a visual approach to runway 25L at LAS, which would be backed up by the instrument landing system (ILS). He also included a brief of the A321's 7.5 degree pitch limit.
The crew reported that visual meteorological conditions with light and variable winds were initially reported at LAS, however, the winds (VMC) became gusty around the time of the accident. The captain stated that, once he turned off the autopilot while on the approach to runway 25L, he thought "the winds seemed a little stronger..." than what was reported, and it felt "a little squirrelly".
According to the flight crew, the approach was stabilized, on speed, and on glide path. Flaps were selected FULL and autobrakes were selected LOW. The approach speed was 158 knots.
When the captain began to initiate the flare within about 20 feet above the ground and pitched up "just a tad" for the flare, but stated he did not feel any pitch response, so he brought the nose up a little more to arrest the descent. Upon initial touchdown, he estimated that they bounced about 5-10 feet back into the air and the airplane struck its tail on the second touchdown.
Postaccident investigation revealed substantial damage to the underbelly and aft bulkhead area. The skin was abraded over a large area through its thickness in several areas of the pressure vessel . One frame was fractured along with several fractured shear ties and frame clips.
Probable Cause: the captain's improper recovery from a bounced landing which resulted in a tailstrike.
Tailstrike
Runway mishap
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Friday 5 April 2013 |
| Time: | 12:51 |
| Type: |  Airbus A321-231 |
| Operator: | US Airways |
| Registration: | N560UW |
| MSN: | 5300 |
| First flight: | 2012-09-14 (7 months) |
| Total airframe hrs: | 1677 |
| Engines: | 2 IAE V2533-A5 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 6 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 186 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 192 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Aircraft fate: | Repaired |
| Location: | Las Vegas-McCarran International Airport, NV (LAS) ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Landing (LDG) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, NC (CLT/KCLT), United States of America |
| Las Vegas-McCarran International Airport, NV (LAS/KLAS), United States of America | |
| Flightnumber: | US1733 |
US Airways flight 1733, an Airbus A321-231, experienced a tail strike while landing on runway 25L at McCarran International Airport (LAS), Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. The airplane incurred substantial damage and there were no injuries to the 192 occupants. The captain was the pilot flying and the first officer was the pilot monitoring. According to flight crew statements, the takeoff, climb, cruise and descent were uneventful. Prior to descent, the captain briefed a visual approach to runway 25L at LAS, which would be backed up by the instrument landing system (ILS). He also included a brief of the A321's 7.5 degree pitch limit.
The crew reported that visual meteorological conditions with light and variable winds were initially reported at LAS, however, the winds (VMC) became gusty around the time of the accident. The captain stated that, once he turned off the autopilot while on the approach to runway 25L, he thought "the winds seemed a little stronger..." than what was reported, and it felt "a little squirrelly".
According to the flight crew, the approach was stabilized, on speed, and on glide path. Flaps were selected FULL and autobrakes were selected LOW. The approach speed was 158 knots.
When the captain began to initiate the flare within about 20 feet above the ground and pitched up "just a tad" for the flare, but stated he did not feel any pitch response, so he brought the nose up a little more to arrest the descent. Upon initial touchdown, he estimated that they bounced about 5-10 feet back into the air and the airplane struck its tail on the second touchdown.
Postaccident investigation revealed substantial damage to the underbelly and aft bulkhead area. The skin was abraded over a large area through its thickness in several areas of the pressure vessel . One frame was fractured along with several fractured shear ties and frame clips.
Probable Cause:
Probable Cause: the captain's improper recovery from a bounced landing which resulted in a tailstrike.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Bounced on landingTailstrike
Runway mishap
Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, NC to Las Vegas-McCarran International Airport, NV as the crow flies is 3056 km (1910 miles).
Distance from Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, NC to Las Vegas-McCarran International Airport, NV as the crow flies is 3056 km (1910 miles).
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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