A boeing 737 flight crew reported that a tail stand; used to protect against a tail-tip situation; w...

Attributes
ACN	1421087
Time
Date	201701
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	DEN.Airport
State Reference	CO
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200 Flight Crew Total 6706 Flight Crew Type 2706
Person 2
Function	First Officer Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 150 Flight Crew Total 4597 Flight Crew Type 4163
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown

Narrative:

Advised via ACARS of potential tail tip condition on arrival in den. Advised flight attendants of possible delay of jet bridge for offloading paxs and we would leave the seatbelt sign on until safe to deplane. On parking at [the] gate; first officer saw the tail stand off the right side of the aircraft. Jet bridge approached as soon as ground power was established and engines shut down. It seemed too quick for my comfort; so I kept the seat belt sign on; and went to talk to the gate agent. Gate agent was unaware of tail tip situation; so I went outside and down the jet bridge to visually confirm the tail stand. I did not see it in place yet; so spoke with ramp person. He said they were moving it in place at that time. When it was in place I went back to flight deck and turned off seat belt sign. Maybe ramp procedures allow the jet bridge to come up to the aircraft as the stand is being positioned. I was cautious wanting to make sure it was in place; as the procedures have changed a few times recently.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A Boeing 737 flight crew reported that a tail stand; used to protect against a tail-tip situation; was not installed by the ground crew in a timely fashion.

Narrative: Advised via ACARS of potential tail tip condition on arrival in DEN. Advised flight attendants of possible delay of jet bridge for offloading paxs and we would leave the seatbelt sign on until safe to deplane. On parking at [the] gate; First Officer saw the tail stand off the right side of the aircraft. Jet bridge approached as soon as ground power was established and engines shut down. It seemed too quick for my comfort; so I kept the seat belt sign on; and went to talk to the gate agent. Gate agent was unaware of tail tip situation; so I went outside and down the jet bridge to visually confirm the tail stand. I did not see it in place yet; so spoke with ramp person. He said they were moving it in place at that time. When it was in place I went back to flight deck and turned off seat belt sign. Maybe ramp procedures allow the jet bridge to come up to the aircraft as the stand is being positioned. I was cautious wanting to make sure it was in place; as the procedures have changed a few times recently.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

A boeing 737 flight crew reported that a tail stand; used to protect against a tail-tip situation; was not installed by the ground crew in a timely fashion.