Hawaiian A21N at Honolulu on Sep 23rd 2021, tail strike on landing

Last Update: July 20, 2022 / 08:48:06 GMT/Zulu time

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Incident Facts

Date of incident
Sep 23, 2021

Classification
Accident

Flight number
HA-43

Aircraft Registration
N208HA

Aircraft Type
Airbus A321-Neo

ICAO Type Designator
A21N

Airport ICAO Code
PHNL

A Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A321-200N, registration N208HA performing flight HA-43 from San Jose,CA to Honolulu,HI (USA) with 128 passengers and 6 crew, was on final approach to Honolulu's runway 04R when the crew initiated a go around from very low height (below 50 feet AGL) at 09:20L (19:20Z), climbed to 3000 feet maintaining routine communication and returned for a landing on runway 04R about 15 minutes after the go around at 09:35L (19:35Z) still maintaining routine communication.

The FAA reported providing the time stamp of the go around: "AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A TAIL STRIKE DURING LANDING AT HONOLULU, HI (HNL)", the aircraft sustained minor damage. The occurrence was rated an incident.

On Oct 7th 2021 the NTSB reported the aircraft sustained substantial damage and rated the occurrence an accident. The occurrence is being investigated by the NTSB.

On Jul 20th 2022 the NTSB released their final report and investigation docket concluding the probable cause of the accident was:

The captain’s improper landing flare, which resulted in an excessive sink rate and subsequent hard landing.

The NTSB analysed:

According to the operator, the captain was the pilot flying, and the first officer was the pilot monitoring for the flight from the Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC), San Jose, California to the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), Honolulu, Hawaii. The taxi, takeoff, climb, cruise, and descent phases of the flight were uneventful. The crew was vectored for the ILS approach to runway 4R at HNL. The ILS approach was uneventful with the crew achieving all of Hawaiian Airlines stabilized approach criteria at both the 1000 ft and 500 ft AGL.

The approach remained uneventful until the flare was initiated at approximately 25 feet AGL. Winds were reported to be approximately 11 kts with gusting up to 18 kts. At this point the captain reported that he felt the aircraft had an accelerated sink rate. To arrest the sink rate, he initiated a slight increase in pitch angle. He then heard an automated audible pitch alert generated by the aircraft and then felt a firm bounce of the aircraft upon initial touchdown. The crew initiated a go-around and had an uneventful approach and landing on runway 04R. Following the landing the crew completed an uneventful taxi and shutdown at the gate.

The tailstrike resulted in abrasion damage over an area of about 14 feet long by 2 feet wide along the aft lower fuselage. There also were several fractures to the internal cargo lining support structure and to at least one frame.



Metars:
PHNL 232153Z 05016KT 10SM FEW025 SCT035 SCT060 30/18 A3000 RMK AO2 SLP158 T03000183=
PHNL 232053Z 07015G21KT 10SM FEW025 SCT035 BKN060 28/19 A3002 RMK AO2 RAB27E36 SLP164 VCSH NW-NE P0000 60000 T02830194 53001=
PHNL 231953Z 05015KT 10SM FEW025 SCT050 29/18 A3001 RMK AO2 SLP163 T02890183=
PHNL 231853Z 06011KT 10SM FEW024 FEW033 28/19 A3002 RMK AO2 RAB20E30 SLP164 P0000 T02780189=
PHNL 231753Z 07008KT 10SM FEW025 SCT036 SCT065 26/19 A3001 RMK AO2 SLP163 T02610194 10261 20239 53008=
PHNL 231653Z 05007KT 10SM FEW025 FEW045 25/18 A3000 RMK AO2 SLP158 T02500183=
PHNL 231553Z 01004KT 10SM FEW023 FEW036 24/18 A2999 RMK AO2 SLP156 T02440178=
Aircraft Registration Data
Registration mark
N208HA
Country of Registration
United States
Date of Registration
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TCDS Ident. No.
Manufacturer
AIRBUS
Aircraft Model / Type
A321-271N
Number of Seats
ICAO Aircraft Type
A21N
Year of Manufacture
Serial Number
Aircraft Address / Mode S Code (HEX)
Engine Count
Engine Manufacturer
Engine Model
Engine Type
Pounds of Thrust
Main Owner
NAjnkfgbppqggjmjenefmdghkAnnqffbnbcgmqnfnkAgcncmngi fffnlnlehA bhjjfjbfkelbefebjinp Subscribe to unlock
Incident Facts

Date of incident
Sep 23, 2021

Classification
Accident

Flight number
HA-43

Aircraft Registration
N208HA

Aircraft Type
Airbus A321-Neo

ICAO Type Designator
A21N

Airport ICAO Code
PHNL

This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
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