PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Policy for F.O. taking controls from Captain
Old 27th Feb 2004, 23:43
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411A
 
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Arizona USA
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Interesting question.

In the mid-eighties, an L1011-200 refueled in JED.
Due to a gross fuel loading error (and a complete cover-up by the fuel crew, one only), the aircraft taxied for takeoff with a lateral fuel imbalance of 23 tons.
The takeoff roll was more or less normal until rotation was commenced. Once airbourne, it was clearly evident to the PF (the Commander) that all was certainly not well. Full aileron and rudder were tried to keep the aircraft level, and as this was clearly not enough, thrust was reduced on number one engine, and this proved to be just enough to keep the aircraft under some semblence of directional control.
All of these maneuvers were accomplished at less that 300agl.

The First Officer, clearly having absolutely no idea what was going on, tried to increase the thrust on the number one engine.
The Flight Engineer, now realizing just what the problem(s) were, slapped the co-pilots hand away from the throttles, and told him to shut UP.

The aircraft returned for landing, and the F/O promptly stormed off to the L10 fleet managers office to complain.

Two days later, all were gathered together in the fleet managers office, and the main complaint the F/O had was that the Captain said absolutely nothing just after takeoff.

The Captains reply...no time to hold ground school at 300agl, with the aircraft about to roll inverted.

The Captain received a letter of commendation from the company, and the First Officer was sent back to the sim, for training...with a stern repremand, to keep his mouth firmly shut if he did not know what he was talking about.

297 folks are alive today because of very quick actions by an aircraft Commander who knew what he was doing.
And...a First Officer learned a valuable lesson.

IF the First Officer wants to intervene, he had absolutely better be sure, otherwise deep doggie do-do usually follows.

PS: The refueler went to jail for six months.
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