Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 Max Damaged in Rare ‘Dutch Roll’ Incident
A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft experienced a rare and unusual maneuver known as a Dutch roll, leading to substantial damage during a flight last month. The incident occurred on May 25 while Flight 746 was en route from Phoenix to Oakland at an altitude of approximately 34,000 feet.
Substantial Damage Discovered Post-Flight
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the plane sustained significant damage to its tail section due to the Dutch roll. This was discovered during a post-flight inspection. The rudder’s standby power control unit (PCU), a crucial backup system, was damaged in the process. Fortunately, the aircraft completed its flight without further incident, and no injuries were reported among the passengers or crew.
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Investigation Underway
The incident has prompted an investigation by the FAA, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and Boeing. The NTSB received notification of the event from Southwest Airlines on June 7 and has since opened an investigation. Data from the aircraft’s digital flight data recorder is being analyzed to determine the incident’s specifics and severity. However, the cockpit voice recorder, which only retains two hours of audio, was overwritten and is unavailable for review. A preliminary report is expected within 30 days of the incident.
What is a Dutch Roll?
A Dutch roll is an oscillatory motion involving simultaneous yaw (side-to-side movement) and roll (see-saw motion) of an aircraft. This dynamic instability can cause significant stress on the airplane’s fuselage. Ken Byrnes, assistant dean and associate professor of aeronautical science at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, explains that Dutch rolls are driven by a combination of rolling motion from the wing design (dihedral effect) and yawing due to adverse yaw effects. Despite being rare in commercial aviation, Dutch rolls can be mitigated by pilots through control inputs and yaw dampeners designed to counteract this instability.
Aircraft Sent Back to Boeing
Following the incident, tracking data from Southwest FlightAware revealed that the aircraft, registered as N8825Q, was returned to Boeing on June 6 for further inspection and repairs. Both Southwest Airlines and Boeing are cooperating fully with the FAA and NTSB in the ongoing investigation.
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Regulatory Changes and Safety Measures
This incident underscores the importance of robust safety measures in aviation. The recent FAA reauthorization legislation passed in May mandates that most commercial passenger planes in the U.S. be equipped with 25-hour cockpit voice recorders within the next six years, enhancing data retention for future investigations.
Dutch roll incidents, although uncommon, highlight the need for continuous vigilance and advancements in aircraft safety and design. The collaboration between the FAA, NTSB, and Boeing aims to ensure such occurrences are thoroughly understood and mitigated in the future, maintaining the high safety standards of commercial aviation.
