Originally Posted by
EWR764
757-300 has a tail skid/bumper designed to absorb the impact of a tailstrike following an over-rotation. An inspection is required after a tailstrike (necessitating the air return) but clearly damage was of limited consequence and the tail skid served its purpose.
Little bit of nerd reading for those interested:
https://www.boeing.com/commercial/ae...ly/m01txt.html
The energy is absorbed by crushing a cartridge inside the tail skid shock absorber.
Two indications will alert maintenance personnel to check the tail skid crushable cartridge:
- Skid marks on the tail skid shoe.
- A popped indicator pin protruding from the bottom of the shock absorber (fig. 2).
