Tail Strike in SFS
 

An FCIF about an MD11 in SFS had a tailstrike landing on 7. Sounds like significant damage. Crew is FINE ! Per Ed Lyons we do not have a systematic problem with our MD fleet, for what that is worth ?

I walked over and looked at that plane about 2 hours after it happened.

The floor and aft bulkhead of the bulk cargo area is buckled, it hit so hard. There is skin gone for 20 feet - you can see up into the tail cone section in places. APU doors smashed, antenna ground down, sh!t dripping everywhere. It was sobering.

At least he was straight down the center line since the gear didn't collapse.

I'd be curious if one or both of this crew had flown into SFS, how much and how recently. With the previous over-run and the "reputation" about SFS and its (short??) runway, maybe some pilots worry to much about getting it down after a little "float" and create a problem that isn't/wasn't there. We will just have to wait and hear what the "truth" (according to the NTSB and Fedex :rolleyes: ) and learn from it as we always do (should :eek: ) .

You're right..my bad. Get rid of the quote and consider it gone. If you have access to a green screen, there is a lot of info available.

Made a bet with a Capt one night, that I could easily make that turnoff between midfield and the end of the runway at 450K#s with a normal touchdown point without really trying! 50 flaps, autobrakes medium and let the brakes take you to a fullstop you will make that turnoff almost everytime (if you don't float). Since he thought it was a fluke, I did it again the next night!

Can't wait to see the circumstances of this one!

I've been working on a theory, and my theory is this:

Many of us came from flying passengers. Now, in that world, there is a pretty bad stigma associated with high-impact landings. You simply cannot prang one on without hundreds of witnesses, who by the way are also your customers. Therefore, you work at it all the way down, even floating a little long to make it pretty.

Here, I've flown two-week trips with people who drop it like a greasy bag of hammers every single time. They catch the three wire, shout "Take that, runway!" and turn off at the first exit.

I flew Osaka-MEM last spring, my leg, landing at night on 36R, about 460,000 pounds. I thought, tonights my night, so I disconnected the AT's at 100'(yes I briefed it), flared it like it was on rails and kissed the earth. Made the first turn off on the right side - 7000'. Captain said, "You floated too long. Next time just dump the nose."

I say that to say this: who ever heard of an MD10 or 11 running off the end of a runway (except on the go in SFS)? And how many hard landings do we rack up each year with our short field techniques?

I can only speak for myself and what I've experienced in my 9+ yrs on the MD11/MD10, but I have NEVER experienced myself, nor observed another pilot displaying this "short field" mentality. And I as a Capt I always brief that go arounds are free!! Having been involved in the investigation of 2 of our hull losses (EWR and SFS), "short field" technique was not a factor! That is all I can speak of personally, maybe others, like you, have different experiences!

Let's hope there are extenuating circumstances that clear the crew and point to a (isolated) problem with this hull.

So what makes the MD 11 such a bugger to land. I had the opportunity to jump seat with you guys from Subic to KIX a number of years back, and after a beautiful approach from the FO we really pounded on, not that I disgree with a firm touchdown, we just really hit hard. At any rate, I didn't say anything, but the FO turned around after and made a comment to me about the airplane being tough to land as the stretch made it very pitch sensative. Later that day one of the MD 11's ended up on it's back, I think at Newark. Also, World has had a very hard landing (one that I know of)and Mandarin wrote that one off in Hong Kong. It appears to have a bit of a problem, but as I've never touchd the controls of one. . .any comments?