Air transportation safety investigation A24O0006
Table of contents
Tail strike on go-around
Air France
Airbus A350-900, F-HTYH
Toronto/Lester B. Pearson International Airport (CYYZ), Ontario
The occurrence
On 21 January 2024, the Airbus A350-900 aircraft, operating as Air France flight AFR356 from Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, France, was on approach to land on Runway 24L at Toronto/Lester B. Pearson International Airport, Ontario.
Just after touchdown, a go-around was initiated. The aircraft experienced a tail strike during the go-around; however, it subsequently returned and landed safely.
The aircraft sustained significant damage. No injuries were reported. The TSB is investigating.
Investigation information
Map showing the location of the occurrence
Investigator-in-Charge
Jean-Pierre (Jeep) Régnier is a senior investigator, Standards and Quality Assurance, with the Air Investigations Branch at the TSB head office in Gatineau. He has over 30 years of aviation experience, including 27 years in military aviation in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) as an officer and a helicopter pilot. During those 27 years in the RCAF, he worked as an accident investigator for 5 years. Mr. Régnier gained his flight experience on the CH-124 Sea King and Bell 206 Jet Ranger helicopters. He earned a master’s degree in safety and accident investigation from Cranfield University, United Kingdom, and joined the TSB in 2015.
Photos
Class of investigation
This is a class 3 investigation. These investigations analyze a small number of safety issues, and may result in recommendations. Class 3 investigations are generally completed within 450 days. For more information, see the Policy on Occurrence Classification.
TSB investigation process
There are 3 phases to a TSB investigation
- Field phase: a team of investigators examines the occurrence site and wreckage, interviews witnesses and collects pertinent information.
- Examination and analysis phase: the TSB reviews pertinent records, tests components of the wreckage in the lab, determines the sequence of events and identifies safety deficiencies. When safety deficiencies are suspected or confirmed, the TSB advises the appropriate authority without waiting until publication of the final report.
- Report phase: a confidential draft report is approved by the Board and sent to persons and corporations who are directly concerned by the report. They then have the opportunity to dispute or correct information they believe to be incorrect. The Board considers all representations before approving the final report, which is subsequently released to the public.
For more information, see our Investigation process page.
The TSB is an independent agency that investigates air, marine, pipeline, and rail transportation occurrences. Its sole aim is the advancement of transportation safety. It is not the function of the Board to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability.