Eight tail-scratches in three years: India's Indigo's pitch balance struggles
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With the release of the preliminary report, the hype surrounding the Air India B787 crash has gradually subsided. While the crash was somewhat accidental, there's also a certain inevitability within the accident. In recent years, India's economic growth has entered a rapid phase, similar to China's development stage 30 years ago. This rapid growth in air transport has brought with it a series of attendant problems. The primary issue is that the increasing capabilities of civil aviation professionals haven't kept pace with the risks associated with fleet growth, leading to a high incidence of accidents and safety incidents.
In addition to Air India, another major Indian airline, IndiGo, a low-cost carrier, is India's largest, oldest, and most profitable airline by passenger volume. With a fleet of over 300 aircraft, IndiGo holds approximately 63% of the Indian aviation market share.
This official account focuses on global load and balance accidents and safety incidents, and IndiGo frequently features in our newsfeed.
On August 16, an IndiGo Airbus A321-200N aircraft, registration VT-ICM, operating flight 6E-1060 from Bangkok, Thailand, to Mumbai, India, initiated a go-around procedure while approaching Mumbai's Runway 27. However, the aircraft's tail made contact with the runway surface. The aircraft subsequently climbed to a safe altitude of 6,000 feet, readjusted its attitude, and re-approached Runway 27, landing safely without further incident.
According to FlightAware, a flight tracking website, the aircraft, which normally flies four to five legs daily, remains grounded in Mumbai.
On June 15, 2023, we analyzed the Indigo Aircraft India tail strike incident that occurred on June 11, 2023: "A321NEO Go-Around Tail Strike - Revisiting Engine Thrust and Aircraft Pitch Balance." We focused on several factors contributing to a go-around tail strike: pilot control, engine throttle to ground, and the long fuselage. This is particularly true during the descent phase, when the aircraft is throttled to idle, speed is reduced, and the flaps are in the landing configuration. However, during a low-altitude go-around, the engine throttle suddenly increases. While the aircraft's lift and tail trim remain constant, the engine thrust creates an increased pitching moment, causing the aircraft to pitch upward. Combined with the pilot's control, the aircraft rotates about its center of gravity. Excessive control or inadequate horizontal stabilizer trim adjustment can cause the tail to drop excessively, potentially leading to a go-around tail strike or even a low-altitude stall.
After a tail strike incident occurred in China in late October 2024, we conducted a targeted analysis focusing on tail strikes, pitch balance, and center of gravity control. In addition to analyzing pitch balance, the article also specifically examined how aft center of gravity, while offering improved performance, can also increase the risk of tail strikes during low-altitude go-arounds.
Back to Indigo. After the go-around incident yesterday, when IndiGo reappeared in my sights, I was compelled to research the company's unsafe incidents over the past three years. Leaving aside flap failures, engine failures, and boost failures, there have been an incredible eight tail strikes in less than three years since 2023.
Seven of these incidents involved Airbus A321s. The A321, registered VT-IBI, experienced two tail strikes within six months. If this had happened in China, the airline might not have been able to continue operating normally. Of course, as time goes by, IndiGo's maintenance department is undoubtedly experienced in repairing tail strikes, a global leader.