Ethiopian airliner down in Africa

[GordonR_Cape]

Originally Posted by jimjim1

Also, 5 possibly relevant reports: (PDF is easy to search)
https://www.documentcloud.org/docume...-737-max8.html
https://assets.documentcloud.org/doc...r-737-max8.pdf
Still available as of 28 April 2019

"Contributed by: Cary Aspinwall, The Dallas Morning News"
HTML has some summary material (metadata) not in the pdf.

ASRS Reports for 737 max8
- A 737 Max 8 captain noted problems on takeoff
- An unidentified captain says the Airworthiness Directive does not address the
problem in November 2018.
- An airline captain called the flight manual for the Boeing 737 Max 8 "inadequate and
almost criminally insufficient."
- A co-pilot reported an altitude deviation in November.
- Co-pilot said after engaging autopilot, aircraft pitched nose down.
- Co-pilot reported that aircraft pitched nose down on departure.
- A Boeing 737 Max 8 goes nose down suddenly during takeoff, pilot reports incident.

All of those reports are suggestive, but inconclusive, in the absence of detailed corroborating evidence such as FDR readouts. The most likely explanation that matches anything to do with MCAS, would a transient high AOA value, due to turbulence soon after takeoff, or some non-permanent mechanical or electrical glitch.