Less than an hour after taking off from Phoenix on May 25th, the plane experienced an uncontrolled side-to-side yawing motion known as a Dutch roll while cruising at 32,000 feet. The pilots of Southwest flight 746 were able to regain control and the plane landed safely in Oakland, according to a preliminary report from the FAA.
“A Dutch roll is definitely not something that we like to see,” said Shem Malmquist, a commercial pilot who flies the Boeing 777 and an instructor at Florida Tech.
The Boeing 737 Max 8 jet involved in the Dutch roll incident is less than two years old. According to the FAA, a post-flight inspection revealed damage to a backup power control unit, known as a PCU. That system controls rudder movements on the plane’s tail.
When will they finally close down Boeing, turn the company inside out, and let them back on the market only when they are really, really sure that they are actually safe again?
The FAA grounded all MAX 9s the day after the blowout, until each one was investigated for failures. Looks like it’s time for the MAX 8s. It’s a shame, really. Dutch rolls sound delicious.
Best I can do is banket.
Those are fantastic! I never knew they were Dutch. Thank you Netherlands!
When the lobbyists are all dead.