Created Friday, Feb 18th 2022 19:20Z, last updated Friday, Feb 18th 2022 19:20Z
A KLM Airbus A330-300, registration PH-AKE performing flight
KL-678 from Calgary,AB (Canada) to Amsterdam (Netherlands) with 216 passengers and 12 crew, departed Calgary's runway 29, when during rotation for takeoff the tail contacted the runway surface. The crew remained unaware of the tail strike, however, a burning odour was noticed in the cabin immediately after becoming airborne. ATC was queried and suggested there may have been a tail strike. Cabin crew had not noticed anything unusual, the flight crew therefore decided to continue the flight to Amsterdam, where the aircraft landed without further incident.
The Canadian TSB reported:
During take-off on Runway 29, the tail contacted the runway surface during rotation. The flight crew were unaware a tail strike had occurred. They had detected a burning odor immediately after lift off and suspected the APU; it was a "bleeds off" take-off and the APU had been supplying conditioned air at the time of take-off. The flight crew consulted the ECAM 'wheel page' and 'APU page' and observed no abnormalities. ATC was queried and they suggested a possible tail strike. The cabin crew were consulted and they did not note anything unusual. The flight continued to EHAM with no further issues. When the aircraft arrived at the gate in EHAM, ground servicing crew noticed the damage to the underside of the empennage and the aircraft was removed from service for damage assessment.
The aircraft is still on the ground in Amsterdam about 10 days after the tail strike.
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