Strange MD-10 incident

[Algy]

Anyone shed any light on this:

NTSB Identification: DCA08FA075
Nonscheduled 14 CFR Part 121: Air Carrier operation of FEDERAL EXPRESS CORP (D.B.A. Federal Express Corp)
Accident occurred Saturday, June 14, 2008 in New York, NY
Aircraft: Douglas MD-10-10, registration: N554FE
Injuries: 3 Uninjured.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

On June 14, 2008, at 1015 eastern daylight time, FedEx flight 764, a McDonnell Douglas/Boeing MD-10-10 freighter, experienced stickshaker and autoslat extension while in a holding pattern. Damage occurred to the right elevator and right horizontal stabilizer. The flight was enroute from Memphis, Tennessee, to New York City. None of the three flightcrew members onboard were injured and the flight landed uneventfully. The aircraft was substantially damaged.

[filejw]

How about they stalled while in a holding pattern.

[Algy]

You know that, or you're guessing?

[Hold West]

I'm guessing the same thing... similarity in damage to Aeromexico 945, stalled over Luxembourg 11 November 1979 due to autopilot mismanagement.

[Flight Detent]

MD-10, aren't those the DC-10s modified to remove the Flight Engineer position?

So..in this case the third person would have been an SO, sort of like a living...breathing nav radio automatic channel-changer!! (and coffee maker).

You know what I'm getting at don't you....they have just paid all this cash to get rid of the most valuable monitoring member of the crew!!!

Well...you asked for it!

Cheers...FD...

[Coleman Myers]

FD - could'nt agree more. Nothing quite like three pairs of eyes

[GAZIN]

I don't think the damage was very substantial as the aircraft appears to have been returned to service quite quickly.

[barit1]

I'm with Hold West. I recall the Aeromexico event, and wish to point out a third set of eyeballs didn't help them, eh?

Postscript: I also recall that one airline (possibly Aeromexico?) was chastized for removing the fins/strakes on #1 and #3 nacelles - ostensibly to prevent techs from parking their hand tools there. These strakes have a significant effect on stall characteristics. Somehow I doubt that removal of strakes is the case with FedEx, though.

[DOJETDRIVER]

For those speculating about how a "third set of eyes" would have helped, did you miss the part in the post about none of the THREE crew members on board were injured? Who's to say that this flight was not continuing on to a farther destination and did in fact have that THIRD set of eyes in the form of an RFO?

[offa]

20 years ago Alitalia reported damage to tailplane after an inadvertent stall during climbout (which manufacturer kept quiet) so this would appear to be nothing new?

[whaledriver101]

Fedex has a horrible history with incidents and accidents over the last few years. Why the FAA hasnt hasnt investigated their training and procedures is beyond me(or maybe they have). After this incident I guess they are good to go( for the next few months anyway).