SR20
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 90; Flight Crew Total 6600; Flight Crew Type 1500
Training / Qualification; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged
Aircraft; Human Factors; Procedure
Student Pilot was practicing simulated soft field takeoffs on Runway XX at ZZZ. Winds were from the south (left hand crosswind) and about 4 knots. On one occasion; Student was unable to maintain satisfactory lateral control and transferred controls to Instructor. Instructor then demonstrated; with Student shadowing on controls; proper technique. On subsequent takeoff; Student again experienced difficulty in maintaining lateral control and transferred controls to instructor. During the transfer; the aircraft pitched up and a tail strike resulted (but was not recognized at the time). On climb-out; the flap position indicator was observed to be in the fully retracted position (normal procedure is 50% flap extension). Likely causes of the incident are failure to adhere to check list items due to distraction of (1) focus on the control issues and (2) presence of additional aircraft waiting to take the runway. Corrections taken; Instructor took a self-imposed two day safety stand-down to analyze actions and identify root causes and hazardous attitudes.
SR20 Flight Instructor reported a tail strike that occurred on takeoff.