SF 340B
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Weight And Balance; Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft
General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Human Factors; Procedure
Pre-departure weight and balance was within limits. Max aft CG index limit was -2.0 and aircraft CG index was -1.0. Tail stand was removed normally. Flight was normal and uneventful until landing touchdown. Touchdown was normal attitude with both main landing gear touching down first; then instead of the nose gear making ground contact the aircraft pitched up unexpected during the roll out at approximately 80 kts. I immediately took the flight controls and applied braking and the aircraft pitched down and the nose gear made ground contact and directional control was reestablished. The runway was exited normally and the aircraft was taxied to the gate and passengers were deplaned. A post flight inspection was performed and slight damage was discovered indicating a tail strike had occurred. I contacted Maintenance Control and entered the discrepancy in the aircraft logbook. I then contacted the Chief Pilot and informed him of the incident.I have replayed this incident over in my mind and have concluded that even though the aircraft was within the CG index limits; best practice in the future would be to do whatever it takes to keep the aircraft CG index as far away from the aft limit as possible when boarding and loading the aircraft.
SF 340B Captain reported a tail strike occurred during landing despite the aircraft having proper CG.