B747-400
Maintenance Airframe; Maintenance Powerplant
Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Ground Event / Encounter Object
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Company Policy; Weather; Human Factors; Equipment / Tooling
Aircraft [cargo] loading tail jack was released from aircraft [fuselage] jack ball; due to faulty tail jack and damaged the tailcone skin during high wind conditions.
Doing a Pre-Departure Walk-Around and found the tail jack [was] off the [fuselage Jack pad] mount and was contacting aircraft about 12 inches in from the mount.  Found a crack in fuselage skin.
A cargo loading tail jack was found released (separated) from a fuselage jack pad mount ball in high wind conditions. Fuselage skin crack damage was found on the B747-400 tailcone.