Flight Crew Last 90 Days 70; Flight Crew Type 775
Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft
Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Diverted; General Maintenance Action
Human Factors; Weather
ATIS reported the wind as 310/9 and when cleared for takeoff Tower reported wind of 310/12. During takeoff roll the Captain applied appropriate control inputs for a left crosswind with mild gusts to include left aileron and rudder necessary to maintain directional control. When 'rotate' call was made; the aircraft was rotated to takeoff pitch attitude; this occurred as the aircraft was rolling over the intersecting runway. As the nose lifted there was an abrupt roll to the left which the Pilot Flying corrected and continued rotation to a normal takeoff attitude. The gear was retracted and the remainder of the takeoff/departure was normal. Passing about 18;000 toward our assigned altitude of FL190; the Flight Attendant in the aft of the aircraft called the cockpit to inform that she heard a loud scraping noise during our takeoff and suspected a tail strike. Pilot Monitoring consulted the QRH procedure which calls for a landing at nearest suitable. Since the tail strike could not be verified and the procedure requires depressurizing the aircraft; it was decided to land ASAP. Captain and Dispatcher agreed that ZZZ was the nearest suitable field. Max landing weight and landing distance was determined from FM charts and all parameters were within the limits. An uneventful approach and landing was made at ZZZ for required maintenance action. There was no indication whatsoever in the cockpit of a tail strike.
On takeoff just as we were lifting off the runway I heard scrapping metal and could feel it underneath my jumpseat at 2L. It was loud enough to concern me and didn't feel right at all. After sterile cockpit was over I immediately called the cockpit and informed them that what I thought might have happened was a tail strike. Captain told me he would call me back in just a few moments. The crew was then informed we were dumping fuel;something about depressurizing; and diverting to ZZZ and just to prepare the cabin for landing. No prep for evacuation was issued. We landed safely. The Captain was very informative.
After takeoff B767-300 flight crew is informed by a Flight Attendant seated in the rear that a tail strike may have occurred during the takeoff. Flight diverts to the nearest suitable airport for maintenance inspection.