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January 25, 2013 · Mcdonnell Douglas MD11 F · N618FE

Denver, CO

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 25, 2013
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (3 uninjured)
Location
Denver, CO
Aircraft
Mcdonnell Douglas MD11 F
Tail Number
N618FE
Operator
Federal Express
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
DCA13CA043

On January 25, 2013, at approximately 0457 mountain standard time, FedEx Express flight 1420, a Boeing MD-11F, N618FE, experienced a tail strike during landing on runway 17 at Denver International Airport (KDEN), Denver, Colorado. There were no injuries to the 3 flight crew, and the airplane sustained substantial damages. The flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 121 as a regularly scheduled passenger flight from Memphis International Airport (KMEM), Memphis, Tennessee, to Denver, Colorado. According to the flightcrew and a review of dispatch records, during the preflight while in Memphis, after receiving multiple weight and balance (W&B) messages, the captain had erroneously entered an airplane zero fuel weight (ZFW) that was 100,000 lbs. less than the actual ZFW when the first officer was out of the cockpit. After the captain made the incorrect ZFW entry, the flight crew did not perform another takeoff performance data briefing, and therefore did not recognize the captain's entry error that resulted in incorrect landing speeds calculated by the flight management software for the flight. During the approach, the flight crew did not notice indications that the target landing airspeed was too low, such as the Angle of Attack (AOA) indicator in the captains Heads Up Display (HUD) that was outside of the speed reference band, and the pitch of the airplane, which was about 7-8 degrees airplane nose up, whereas the normal airplane pitch on approach was 4-6 degrees pitch. The first officer also stated that during the approach he noticed that his airspeed indication had an amber box surrounding it, which is an indication that the airspeed had reached Vmin and was approaching a stall condition. During the flare and landing, the tail of the airplane struck the surface of the runway. The aircraft taxied normally to the cargo ramp, and an inspection revealed substantial damage to the skin, stringers, beams, APU compartment bulkhead, and aft pressure bulkhead of the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause

the flight crews failure to perform a takeoff performance data briefing following the final entries into the Flight Management System, which would have alerted them to the incorrect weight entry and resulting incorrect landing speeds. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the flight crew to recognize and respond to various visual cues indicating the airplane's airspeed was too slow, resulting in a higher than normal pitch during landing and the tail of the airplane striking the runway.

Full Narrative

On January 25, 2013, at approximately 0457 mountain standard time, FedEx Express flight 1420, a Boeing MD-11F, N618FE, experienced a tail strike during landing on runway 17 at Denver International Airport (KDEN), Denver, Colorado. There were no injuries to the 3 flight crew, and the airplane sustained substantial damages. The flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 121 as a regularly scheduled passenger flight from Memphis International Airport (KMEM), Memphis, Tennessee, to Denver, Colorado. According to the flightcrew and a review of dispatch records, during the preflight while in Memphis, after receiving multiple weight and balance (W&B) messages, the captain had erroneously entered an airplane zero fuel weight (ZFW) that was 100,000 lbs. less than the actual ZFW when the first officer was out of the cockpit. After the captain made the incorrect ZFW entry, the flight crew did not perform another takeoff performance data briefing, and therefore did not recognize the captain's entry error that resulted in incorrect landing speeds calculated by the flight management software for the flight. During the approach, the flight crew did not notice indications that the target landing airspeed was too low, such as the Angle of Attack (AOA) indicator in the captains Heads Up Display (HUD) that was outside of the speed reference band, and the pitch of the airplane, which was about 7-8 degrees airplane nose up, whereas the normal airplane pitch on approach was 4-6 degrees pitch. The first officer also stated that during the approach he noticed that his airspeed indication had an amber box surrounding it, which is an indication that the airspeed had reached Vmin and was approaching a stall condition. During the flare and landing, the tail of the airplane struck the surface of the runway. The aircraft taxied normally to the cargo ramp, and an inspection revealed substantial damage to the skin, stringers, beams, APU compartment bulkhead, and aft pressure bulkhead of the airplane.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time04:30 MST
Nearest AirportDenver International (1nm)
Runway17R
Runway Length12000 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftMcdonnell Douglas MD11 F
Tail NumberN618FE
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorFederal Express
Operating RulePart 121
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsGeneral Electric · CF6-80C2D1F · Turbofan · 60690 | General Electric · CF6-80C2D1F · Turbofan · 60690 | General Electric · CF6-80C2D1F · Turbofan · 60690
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (3 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured3
Total3
Crew 1Age 57 · First Class · None
Crew 2Age 52 · First Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDawn
Wind160° @ 13 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point30 C / 21 C
Altimeter30.12 inHg
Observation Time11:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data