Originally Posted by
Pilot DAR
I think that ground contact at the angle of any of those lines would be an abnormal landing?
Most 773 touchdown attitudes are between 3.5 and 5.0 degrees. higher than that is the result are worthy of analysis. To get a tail strike needs an extended float bleeding speed excessively, (each 5kts is another degree of attitude more or less) or an abrupt late flare at a low speed. A bounce and attempted flare to cushion the landing will result in reduced tail clearances. A very low touchdown sink rate can result in a pitch up on WOW logic triggering spoiler rise. The B777 is better than previous Boeings in that regard, but there is a pitch up moment at that time unless the gear has completed the ground stroke.
Crosswinds positively correlate to reduced tail clearances, although my data on that is at least 5 years out of date.
The lowest clearances that occur in normal operations is on takeoff, where a Vr error, or loss of airspeed following commencement of rotate can be nasty, but historically most strikes occur on landings where there is more clearance on a normally executed landing, but there is more variability in technique and dynamics resulting in speed variation in the flare, and variation in the pitch rate and attained pitch.
FWIW, adding a HUD makes it much easier to ensure that flares are appropriate, FPV remaining on the touchdown zone etc...