B737-800
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged
Human Factors
Upon arriving at destination airport and during postflight inspection it was discovered that there was damage to the bottom of the tail skid shoe. The painted red plastic cover was missing and the bottom appeared scraped. The indicator decal on the skirt of the tail skid was showing green. The aircraft proceeded through the flight without disruption and arrived without further incident. As the damage went unknown through the flight; if it had been we would have executed the procedure established in the QRH directing us to depressurize and land at the nearest suitable airport.Upon further review of performance details and recollection regarding the flight afterward; it appears as though the aircraft was in an overweight situation on takeoff. I have recalled at the beginning of climb; the stick shaker vibrated very briefly and back pressure was decreased to compensate for this abnormality. When executing performance inputs via the company iPad performance software; both pilots verified the input details and CG corrections and the software accepted it. The corresponding data was entered into the FMC and reviewed by both pilots.ATC had advised us through a relay from the Panama departure ATC of a possible part left on the runway and were unable to provide a description. As there were no tactile indications or other; the damage to the tail skid went unknown until postflight checks were completed.On takeoff too much back pressure was applied. Lack of recent and continual experience with the NG (Next Generation) may have contributed to this; as prior to this flight I had only flown the NG once this year; and with the last recorded entry. Further analysis of performance indicates an unintentional overweight takeoff that contributed to this event. A notation in the logbook was made for Maintenance and company was contacted regarding the event.
B737-800 flight crew reported over-rotated during takeoff resulting in tail strike.