Passenger on Challenger Jet Dies from Turbulence
I couldn't see anything unusual from this flight record except that from takeoff from KEEN to landing at KBDL took 25 minutes, yet it reached FL 260.
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/.../KBDL/tracklog
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/.../KBDL/tracklog
What we don't know yet, from the brief prelim report, is why the climb continued for 8 minutes after the upsets, and exactly when the crew realized they had a medical emergency as well as a systems emergency.
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Castlegar
Posts: 255
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Pitch upsets
Preliminary Report N300ER
". . . Those numbers ... in excess of the design limits ... close to the ultimate load limits . . . may even need to be scrapped..."
Pitch upset ? -- everyone recalls just such an investigation :
TWA742 / 28Aug73 B707-331B (N8705T) during descent into Los Angeles, night, experienced pitch oscillations. One passenger killed. HNL - LAX, routine until descending through FL220 at 350 KIAS, at 2150 PDT (night) aircraft began to porpoise, over 50 oscillations within about 2 minutes, peak forces of +2.4g to -0.3g, pitch from 5-7 degrees nose up to 5-7 degrees nose down. Pitch oscillations abated as speed decreased to about 300 KIAS at FL195. F/As and pax standing in aft cabin were thrown repeatedly from floor to ceiling while aircraft porpoised. N8705T had previously experienced pitch oscillation onset with similarities of entry speed, peak loads, and average frequency: .on 18July72,
Glorify NTSB
". . . Those numbers ... in excess of the design limits ... close to the ultimate load limits . . . may even need to be scrapped..."
Pitch upset ? -- everyone recalls just such an investigation :
TWA742 / 28Aug73 B707-331B (N8705T) during descent into Los Angeles, night, experienced pitch oscillations. One passenger killed. HNL - LAX, routine until descending through FL220 at 350 KIAS, at 2150 PDT (night) aircraft began to porpoise, over 50 oscillations within about 2 minutes, peak forces of +2.4g to -0.3g, pitch from 5-7 degrees nose up to 5-7 degrees nose down. Pitch oscillations abated as speed decreased to about 300 KIAS at FL195. F/As and pax standing in aft cabin were thrown repeatedly from floor to ceiling while aircraft porpoised. N8705T had previously experienced pitch oscillation onset with similarities of entry speed, peak loads, and average frequency: .on 18July72,
Glorify NTSB
The thread title should change if it was from an aircraft control problem.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Florida
Posts: 247
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wondering about the flight crew decision to perform an ad hoc, partial exterior inspection on a taxiway with one engine running. While it certainly solved the lazy airspeed indicator fault, I would then also have plenty of doubt about the validity of the rest of the pre-flight inspection. IMO, a return to the ramp, shutdown, and complete pre-flight inspection was in order.
Wondering about the flight crew decision to perform an ad hoc, partial exterior inspection on a taxiway with one engine running. While it certainly solved the lazy airspeed indicator fault, I would then also have plenty of doubt about the validity of the rest of the pre-flight inspection. IMO, a return to the ramp, shutdown, and complete pre-flight inspection was in order.
Last edited by Concours77; 28th Mar 2023 at 17:47.
Can’t help but think that the lack of a full power-down (and hence reset) after the extreme IAS mis-compare from the initial take-off run is likely to be an issue here.
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: france
Posts: 760
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Preliminary Report :The crew recalled EICAS messages of ‘AP STAB TRIM FAIL’ [autopilot
stabilizer trim failure] ‘MACH TRIM FAIL’ and ‘AP HOLDING NOSE DOWN’.
[….]
The PIC asked the SIC to refer to the quick reference handbook. The SIC, via an electronic flight bag (iPad), located the quick reference card and the ‘PRI STAB TRIM FAIL’ [Primary Stabilizer Trim Failure] checklist. The SIC visually showed the PIC the checklist, and they both agreed to execute the checklist. The first action on the checklist was to move the stabilizer trim switch (‘STAB TRIM’), located on the center console, from ‘PRI’ (Primary) to ‘OFF.’ The SIC read the checklist item aloud and he subsequently moved the switch to off. As soon as the switch position was moved, the airplane abruptly pitched up.
stabilizer trim failure] ‘MACH TRIM FAIL’ and ‘AP HOLDING NOSE DOWN’.
[….]
The PIC asked the SIC to refer to the quick reference handbook. The SIC, via an electronic flight bag (iPad), located the quick reference card and the ‘PRI STAB TRIM FAIL’ [Primary Stabilizer Trim Failure] checklist. The SIC visually showed the PIC the checklist, and they both agreed to execute the checklist. The first action on the checklist was to move the stabilizer trim switch (‘STAB TRIM’), located on the center console, from ‘PRI’ (Primary) to ‘OFF.’ The SIC read the checklist item aloud and he subsequently moved the switch to off. As soon as the switch position was moved, the airplane abruptly pitched up.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Florida
Posts: 247
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wondering about the flight crew decision to perform an ad hoc, partial exterior inspection on a taxiway with one engine running. While it certainly solved the lazy airspeed indicator fault, I would then also have plenty of doubt about the validity of the rest of the pre-flight inspection. IMO, a return to the ramp, shutdown, and complete pre-flight inspection was in order.
Victim identified. It sounds from the quotes from her spouse as though passengers were thrown around the cabin. This implies no seat belts were being used.
Turbulence victim
Turbulence victim
It is also prudent to select a cruise level, fuel permitting, where you have good G protection. In other words dont get too high. Dont try and outclimb weather. Best to go through it at a lower level, monitoring AS. When I was on cargo fl310 to 330 was a good level to penetrate weather, a/c weight permitting.
Last edited by RichardJones; 25th Apr 2023 at 20:01.
If your sitting down, strap in. C.A.T., is very hard to predict.that same thinking should be conveyed to passengers.
It is also prudent to select a cruise level, fuel permitting, where you have good G protection. In other words dont get too high. Dont try and outclimb weather. Best to go through it at a lower level, monitoring AS. When I was on cargo fl310 to 330 was a good level to penetrate weather, a/c weight permitting.
It is also prudent to select a cruise level, fuel permitting, where you have good G protection. In other words dont get too high. Dont try and outclimb weather. Best to go through it at a lower level, monitoring AS. When I was on cargo fl310 to 330 was a good level to penetrate weather, a/c weight permitting.
Preliminary Report N300ER
Key points:
Incident not caused by turbulence
Multiple AP/trim faults prior to upset
Upset event initiated due to pilot implementation of QRC for primary stabilizer trim fail
Upset g forces +4.2 to -2.3
1st takeoff attempt rejected due to right pitot tube cover installed
2nd takeoff no V-speeds entered
Both pilots under 100 hours in type
Key points:
Incident not caused by turbulence
Multiple AP/trim faults prior to upset
Upset event initiated due to pilot implementation of QRC for primary stabilizer trim fail
Upset g forces +4.2 to -2.3
1st takeoff attempt rejected due to right pitot tube cover installed
2nd takeoff no V-speeds entered
Both pilots under 100 hours in type
FFS !!! how difficult is it to perform a proper walk-around? Answer = not remotely difficult, even in the pouring rain - just do it.
2nd bold, sounds like those pilots had 100 TT, let alone on type.
Are pilots nowadays learning nothing from CRM and studying crashes?
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Here, there, and everywhere
Posts: 1,124
Likes: 0
Received 12 Likes
on
7 Posts
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Within AM radio broadcast range of downtown Chicago
Age: 71
Posts: 851
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"Chop" can produce surprising reactions out amongst the populace.
About 10 minutes after rotating off the KORD runway last week on board a 787 operating to Paris CDG by, uh, let's just say one of the big 3 U.S. airlines, the aircraft suddenly seemed to have been punched downward, pretty forcefully. Your friendly forum-neighborhood SLF/attorney was in the window seat, in the section between the high-end seats and the squeeze-'em-in rows (it's worth it, even on a budget, but I digress). My seatmate in the aisle seat - it's just 2 abreast at the sides of the rows - was quite startled, and frightened. So, what....??
So she grabbed my arm on the armrest with such force that her fingernails went through two layers of admittedly relatively thin fabric. This didn't quite draw blood but very nearly. She didn't let go for what seemed like 30 seconds or more - the chop had lasted maybe 5 to 8 seconds (I wasn't timing). The marks she left on my arm were still quite visible, let's see, it was a Wednesday evening flight, the marks were still quite evident the following Monday evening.
Perhaps this would be relevant to the thread if this unwarranted - though not naked - aggression had been followed by "clever conversation".... alas, the young lovely had excellent French. Though only.
.... .... ....
P.S. The look of fear in her eyes - I'm not kidding. In the moment, the words she fired off at me about what had just happened didn't register in my mind enough to be recaled, something like, "what's happening?" It helped, however, that the chop had hit the aircraft while one of the F/Os - there appeared to be two on the flight crew - was in mid-"Public Announcement." WR 6-3
About 10 minutes after rotating off the KORD runway last week on board a 787 operating to Paris CDG by, uh, let's just say one of the big 3 U.S. airlines, the aircraft suddenly seemed to have been punched downward, pretty forcefully. Your friendly forum-neighborhood SLF/attorney was in the window seat, in the section between the high-end seats and the squeeze-'em-in rows (it's worth it, even on a budget, but I digress). My seatmate in the aisle seat - it's just 2 abreast at the sides of the rows - was quite startled, and frightened. So, what....??
So she grabbed my arm on the armrest with such force that her fingernails went through two layers of admittedly relatively thin fabric. This didn't quite draw blood but very nearly. She didn't let go for what seemed like 30 seconds or more - the chop had lasted maybe 5 to 8 seconds (I wasn't timing). The marks she left on my arm were still quite visible, let's see, it was a Wednesday evening flight, the marks were still quite evident the following Monday evening.
Perhaps this would be relevant to the thread if this unwarranted - though not naked - aggression had been followed by "clever conversation".... alas, the young lovely had excellent French. Though only.
.... .... ....
P.S. The look of fear in her eyes - I'm not kidding. In the moment, the words she fired off at me about what had just happened didn't register in my mind enough to be recaled, something like, "what's happening?" It helped, however, that the chop had hit the aircraft while one of the F/Os - there appeared to be two on the flight crew - was in mid-"Public Announcement." WR 6-3
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: france
Posts: 760
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
NTSB
And the crew used the primary trim failure check-list requesting the well working PRIM OFF!!!! : (Reread the NTSB preliminary report)
Thus the aircraft abruptly pitched down !
Why does the NSTB let imagine any other scenario , hiding EFS pilots' fault ???
rh
Last edited by roulishollandais; 12th May 2023 at 12:30.