barit 1
regarding, "NO HIGHWAY" by Shute, yes, in some ways it does remind me of the book:
step 1: blame the pilot
step 2: have boffin working on new theories of aircraft construction , use concept of general research and not specific aircraft research to add tension.
step 3: have a bunch of other pilots speak out saying that a pilot couldn't do this to a a "good" plane.
step 4: have manufacturer demand that plane not be held to blame
step 5: find out that plane was POS clearing pilot.
hmmmm, lessons learned in advance for metal fatigue and something akin to composite problems.
Solution: in the book, fly less than 1500 hours on airframe. in the crash under discussion, just tell the pilots not to do something with the rudder.
air rabbit:
simply put, if all pilots didn't know that described rudder movements would cause plane to break apart in flight, then all PILOTS must be instructed and tested. At airlines, easily done in sims. A GA pilot could be given this info during their BFR.
Without creating a 50 page document on exactly what to do, isn't it better that we all just agree that the proper thing needs to be done? that plane builders build something more robust? that pilots be a little more careful? and that we must all still wonder a bit...maybe, just maybe something failed causing the copilot to wiggle the rudder in such a fashion?