EAT A306 at Leipzig on Feb 9th 2024, tail strike on go around

Last Update: December 18, 2024 / 19:18:46 GMT/Zulu time

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Photo of EAT Leipzig D-AZMO, Airbus A300 — EAT Leipzig D-AZMO, Airbus A300 (Photo credit: Mike Burdett / Flickr / License: CC by-sa)

Incident Facts

Date of incident
Feb 9, 2024

Classification
Accident

Airline
EAT Leipzig

Flight number
QY-995

Departure
Tel Aviv, Israel

Destination
Leipzig, Germany

Aircraft Registration
D-AZMO

Aircraft Type
Airbus A300

ICAO Type Designator
A306

Airport
Leipzig Halle Airport, Leipzig

Airport ICAO Code
EDDP

An EAT Leipzig Airbus A300-600 freighter, registration D-AZMO performing flight QY-995 from Tel Aviv (Israel) to Leipzig (Germany) with 2 crew, was landing on Leipzig's runway 26L at 17:54L (16:54Z) when the crew initiated a go around from very low height. The tail contacted the runway surface, the aircraft climbed out to safety and positioned for an approach to runway 26R where the aircraft landed without further incident about 20 minutes later. There were no injuries, the aircraft sustained substantial damage however.

The operator had suffered another tailstrike of another A306 just two days earlier, see Incident: EAT A306 at Warsaw on Feb 7th 2024, tail strike on landing.

On Feb 12th 2024 Germany's BFU reported, that they have rated the occurrence an accident and have opened an investigation into the occurrence.

On Jun 3rd 2024 the BFU reported the aircraft was performing an ILS approach to runway 26L, the approach was stable. In the flare in cross wind, while aligning the aircraft with the runway, the aircraft touched down and became airborne again, banked to the right and touched down a second time. Both pilots called "Go Around", the captain took control of the aircraft, performed the go around and subsequent landing. During the rejected/balked landing the tail of the aircraft contacted the runway surface causing damage to both structure of the aircraft as well as to the runway surface (scratched open over a length of several meters).

On Dec 18th 2024 the BFU released their final factual report with no analysis and conclusions. The BFU reported the aircraft sustained substantial damage and rated the occurrence an accident.

The BFU summarized the sequence of events:
The Airbus A300F4-622R (A300) was on a cargo flight from Tel Aviv, Israel, to Leipzig/Halle, Germany. Two pilots were on board of the airplane. At 0821 hrs on the day of the occurrence, the two pilots had taken off with the airplane from Leipzig/Halle Airport and flew to Tel Aviv, where they landed at 1252 hrs local. At 1449 hrs, the airplane took off from Tel Aviv for the return flight after it had been unloaded and re-loaded. For the landing at Leipzig/Halle, an instrument approach procedure to runway 26L was planned and performed.

At 1722 hrs, the pilots performed the approach briefing. At 1747 hrs, the airplane captured the localizer and the pilots received the clearance for an ILS approach 26L. At 1749 hrs, the Pilot In Command (PIC) in his function as Pilot Monitoring (PM) reported “localizer established”. The approach was flown manually and the engine thrust levers were controlled manually. During the approach, the landing checklist was completed and at 1753:20 hrs, at 1,000 ft, the co-pilot, as Pilot Flying (PF), determined the approach as stabilised. The PIC confirmed it and the approach was continued. As the runway was reached, the co-pilot initiated the flare of the airplane and attempted to align it with the runway from a crosswind approach.

At 1754:31 hrs, the airplane touched down for the first time. It lifted off again, rolled right and at 1754:34 hrs, touched down again. At 1754:37 hrs, both pilots almost simultaneously said “go-around” and the PIC intervened in the steering. From 1754:38 hrs on, engine thrust increased again. The PIC performed the go-around and acted as PF until the landing at 1812 hrs on runway 26R.

During the aborted landing, a tailstrike occurred where the aft, lower fuselage structure and the surface of runway 26L were damaged.

Metars:
EDDP 091850Z AUTO 19010KT 9999 SCT039 12/08 Q0990 NOSIG=
EDDP 091820Z AUTO 19006KT 9999 BKN041 11/08 Q0990 NOSIG=
EDDP 091750Z AUTO 18007KT 9999 FEW045 11/08 Q0990 NOSIG=
EDDP 091720Z AUTO 18006KT 9999 SCT041 12/08 Q0990 NOSIG=
EDDP 091650Z AUTO 19008KT CAVOK 12/08 Q0989 NOSIG=
EDDP 091620Z AUTO 20009KT CAVOK 12/08 Q0989 NOSIG=
EDDP 091550Z AUTO 20012KT CAVOK 12/08 Q0989 NOSIG=
EDDP 091520Z AUTO 21011KT CAVOK 13/08 Q0989 NOSIG=
EDDP 091450Z AUTO 21013KT CAVOK 13/08 Q0989 NOSIG=
EDDP 091420Z AUTO 21013KT 9999 FEW042 13/08 Q0989 NOSIG=
EDDP 091350Z AUTO 21011KT 9999 BKN036 13/09 Q0989 NOSIG=
EDDP 091320Z AUTO 20013KT 9999 SCT039 13/09 Q0989 NOSIG=
EDDP 091250Z AUTO 20012KT 9999 BKN037 13/09 Q0989 NOSIG=