The Incident
On May 25th, a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 took off from Phoenix with its sights set on Oakland. Everything seemed routine until the aircraft hit cruising altitude at 32,000 feet. That’s when the plane began an uncontrolled side-to-side yawing motion, a phenomenon known as a Dutch roll. This rare but serious issue can be unsettling, to say the least.
Thankfully, the skilled pilots of Southwest flight 746 managed to regain control, and the plane landed safely in Oakland. But the incident has sparked an FAA investigation to determine what went wrong.
What is a Dutch Roll?
For those not fluent in aviation lingo, a Dutch roll is a lateral oscillation where the airplane rocks from side to side. It’s not something you want to experience mid-flight, but modern planes and their systems are designed to prevent it from happening.
Shem Malmquist, a commercial pilot and instructor at Florida Tech, emphasized the rarity of such an event on modern aircraft. “A Dutch roll is definitely not something that we like to see,” Malmquist stated. He pointed out the importance of pilot training in handling such situations, and clearly, the pilots of flight 746 were up to the task. “That training is really, really critical,” Malmquist added.
The Aftermath
Following the incident, a post-flight inspection revealed damage to a backup power control unit (PCU) in the plane’s tail. This system controls the rudder movements, which are crucial for maintaining the aircraft’s stability. The damaged plane stayed in Oakland until June 6th, before heading to Everett, Washington, for maintenance.
Boeing’s Response
Boeing, still reeling from past 737 Max 8 crashes that claimed 346 lives, is once again under scrutiny. This incident is particularly alarming given the history of tail rudder issues with earlier 737 models. Boeing has been working hard to regain the trust of regulators and the public, but this Dutch roll incident raises fresh concerns.
While Boeing has declined to comment, they are cooperating with the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to get to the bottom of what happened. “We will take appropriate action based on the findings,” the FAA assured in a statement.
Moving Forward
As the investigation unfolds, it’s clear that both Boeing and the FAA are taking this incident very seriously. The aviation giant is in discussions to buy Spirit AeroSystems, a key supplier, as it continues its quest to enhance quality and safety.
No other airlines have reported similar issues, but the spotlight is firmly on Boeing as they work to ensure such an incident doesn’t happen again. For now, passengers can take comfort in the fact that the crew of flight 746 acted swiftly and effectively, preventing a potentially disastrous outcome.
Stay tuned for updates on this developing story as we keep an eye on Boeing’s journey to rebuild trust and ensure our skies remain safe.
Original Source: NPR