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Averting Catastrophe Through Superior Airmanship (video)
On October 9, 2002, Northwest Airlines flight 85, a Boeing 747-400 flying from Detroit to Narita suffered a lower rudder malfunction. This Air Crash Investigation episode reveals the challenges experienced on board by the crew, and the cause of this near disaster. (youtu.be) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WD0IEYwBqns&feature=youtube_gdata_player
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WD0IEYwBqns&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Perhaps the most important take away from this video is in the very end. One of the pilots stated the ability to skillfully hand fly the aircraft was extremely important. As we train pilots to be autopilot managers, basic stick and rudder skill become secondary. If this crew had not had some old school flying under their belts the results of the this incident might be resting on the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.
How about it everybody, grab the stick every now and then.
How about it everybody, grab the stick every now and then.
I agree 100%. I have talked to our Chief pilot with that very concern and he agrees. Pesonally, I do not feel that Simulator is a good enough. Working Maintenance control, when I have to MEL and autopilot, I find 2 types of captains... 1 is the one who complains that now he must hand fly it, and the 2nd is No Problem, we can use the practice.
Wasn't there a circuit breaker that could have been pulled to disable the lower rudder?
No. but if they had turned the Hydraulics off (which is normally stickly forbidden). At that point he would have lost his upper rudder, spoilers, slats, breaks, Thurst Reveresers. If he had tried to regain those systems later then it could have been worse. Note the images at the end o fthe video. With power off the a/c, and even being moved... The lower rudder was jammed hard over. Chances are if they had killed the hydraulics then they would have lost the upper rudder and that would have most likly made ia scerenio that could not have been recovered from. It is my believe that the crew made the exact correct decisions. They were told to leave HYDRAULIC Systems on. As a Mechanic, and Airline Maintenance controller, I firmly believe that was the right decision.
I am not a pilot, but I can see that technology has created the potential of losing necessary "hands on" flying skills needed in emergency situations. Since it might be a bit hard to have a camera crew on each flight "just in case" a documentary needs to be made about the flight, let's just accept the acting of the re-enactments as it is. I found the piece as a whole interesting.