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Old 11th Jul 2001, 09:54
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ammdolly
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China Airlines sort of managed it in a B747SP in Feb 1985. the offical investigation reported that the aircraft nose had pitched down 67degrees and rolled onto its back at a bank angle of 176degrees. This had subjected the wings and frame to a +5g, which at the time Boeing maintained was impossible, and it was not until they saw the flight and data recorders that they belived it happened. It turned out the commander regained control just 40seconds from impact with the sea. He continued to fly for a further hour to San fransico. It appears the cause was incorrect actions by him when he had an engine failure at 41,000 ft and all flight deck were caught unawares , they disengaged the autopilot and thats when all hell broke loose. The effects of falling 15,000ft per min and the 5g locked the undercarriage into place, and it seems this is what helped to slow them down in order to regain control and the report did praise the crew for regaining control of a situation even boeing said could not happen.

Hope this answers your question.