A recent incident involving a Boeing 737 Max operated by Southwest Airlines has raised concerns after the aircraft suffered structural damage during a flight. The incident occurred on May 25 as the jet was flying from Phoenix to Oakland, California, cruising at 34,000 feet. The plane went into a “Dutch roll,” which is a combination of yaw and rocking that causes the wings to roll up and down. Although Southwest Airlines did not notify the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) about the incident until June 7, following maintenance on the airplane, damage to structural components was discovered.
Aviation experts have noted that Dutch rolls are a part of aerodynamics and pilots are trained to recover from such situations. Most modern planes include a yaw damper that can correct the condition by adjusting the rudder. The Federal Aviation Administration’s preliminary report indicated that after landing, damage was found to a unit controlling backup power to the rudder, described as “substantial.” The structural damage likely occurred in the tail fin of the plane where the power units are housed. It was surprising to experts as normally the backup unit would not be activated during a Dutch roll. Despite the seriousness of the incident, the pilots were able to regain control and safely land the aircraft at Oakland with no reported injuries.
The incident has raised questions about the safety of the Boeing 737 Max, with concerns over the severity of the damage and the potential risks associated with Dutch rolls. Aviation safety consultant John Cox noted that older Boeing jets were more susceptible to losing control during a Dutch roll, unlike the newer 737s which have design changes that naturally dampen the oscillations. The NTSB has downloaded data from the plane, a Boeing 737 Max 8, to further investigate the incident and determine the extent of the damage and severity of the Dutch roll. While the cockpit voice recorder was overwritten after two hours, investigators are still hopeful that the data from the plane will provide valuable insights into the incident.
Southwest Airlines has confirmed its participation in the investigation and has expressed a commitment to cooperating with the NTSB. The airline spokesperson declined to provide further details on the incident. It remains to be seen whether the damage to the structural components of the airplane was a result of the Dutch roll or other factors. The NTSB is expected to issue a preliminary report on the incident within the next 30 days, shedding more light on what happened during the flight and the actions taken by the pilots to regain control of the aircraft. With safety being a top priority in the aviation industry, incidents like these are thoroughly investigated to ensure that necessary measures are taken to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
