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Alaska Airlines 737-900 MAX loses a door in-flight out of PDX

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Alaska Airlines 737-900 MAX loses a door in-flight out of PDX

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Old 6th Jan 2024, 14:44
  #81 (permalink)  
 
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What potential outcome could there have been had the plug/door/window struck the rear control surfaces ?
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Old 6th Jan 2024, 14:46
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Originally Posted by logansi
An almost brand new AS Max 9 has lost an entire window section during an explosive decompression event just out of Portland. Photos below show reported damage

I think anyone sitting there would likely suffer explosive evacuation of their bowels immediately afterwards adding to their suffering.

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Old 6th Jan 2024, 14:53
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Originally Posted by OpenCirrus619
Just seen this, from yesterday: https://www.seattletimes.com/busines...it-in-the-air/

Looks like Boeing have learnt nothing over the past few years (and the FAA are still "bending over" for them).

Just reinforces my view: If its Boeing I ain't going
Does EASA have to accept this?
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Old 6th Jan 2024, 15:09
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Shouldn't there be bolts in these holes? Anyone got any fancy enhancement apps to see if the holes have any stubs left in them?
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Old 6th Jan 2024, 15:09
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I often read comms transcripts from US events and there seems a reluctance to use ICAO standard phraseology. "We are an emergency" doesn't have the gravitas of a mayday call which I thought was what it should have been.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-67899564
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Old 6th Jan 2024, 15:11
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Originally Posted by RevMan2
Doesn’t help if - as reported - the adjacent seat was defenestrated…..
As reported ...

The photos clearly show that didn't happen. If triple seats start to separate, it's a sign that you have far bigger problems.
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Old 6th Jan 2024, 15:13
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Originally Posted by procede
In their defence: the pilots probably would not have noticed the hole, if not for the cabin pressurisation warning.
Except for;


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Old 6th Jan 2024, 15:18
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Originally Posted by Fright Level
I often read comms transcripts from US events and there seems a reluctance to use ICAO standard phraseology. "We are an emergency" doesn't have the gravitas of a mayday call which I thought was what it should have been.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-67899564
From the audio I heard, even after the pilot declared they were an emergency, the next controller on approached asked again if they were an emergency aircraft (not sure why this wasn't passed on. I can only assume the Alaska wasn't squawking 7700 for some reason). The pilot reponsed in the affirmative, and gave the souls and fuel onboard. Yet soon after, ATC asked for souls and fuel onboard, which required the same readback again.

Not sure what we going on with the controllers, but the communication seemed pretty poor throughout.
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Old 6th Jan 2024, 15:21
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Originally Posted by Consol

Shouldn't there be bolts in these holes? Anyone got any fancy enhancement apps to see if the holes have any stubs left in them?
Those aren't holes, those are striker plates to fair the alignment of the outer panels. the bolts would go laterally, and the recess for those appears top left and right I believe. I've owned earlier B737's this is new to me...
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Old 6th Jan 2024, 15:27
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Originally Posted by fdr
Those aren't holes, those are striker plates to fair the alignment of the outer panels. the bolts would go laterally, and the recess for those appears top left and right I believe. I've owned earlier B737's this is new to me...
Yes, they're the stops that prevent the door moving outwards unless it first moves vertically to clear them. The lock bolts are, of course, intended to prevent that happening unintentionally.
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Old 6th Jan 2024, 15:29
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Originally Posted by Consol

Shouldn't there be bolts in these holes? Anyone got any fancy enhancement apps to see if the holes have any stubs left in them?
If you mean the permanent attachment points for the panel, there are blind fastener heads in the holes. It is interesting that one of the fastener heads (right hand side 2nd down) is tilted like it suffered a head/shank failure. This could be the last fastener to fail, although it seems less likely as it's on the forward edge. Since this was a 'new' aircraft I suspect that this panel was not secured correctly during manufacture, allowing air pressure leaks and fretting type failure of a fastener that then allowed dynamic pressure under the panel and pry it off.
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Old 6th Jan 2024, 15:31
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Originally Posted by Auxtank
Except for;

If the door is missing all its hardware because it is just intended to fill the hole would the door unlocked sensors still be there ?
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Old 6th Jan 2024, 15:34
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Originally Posted by Sailvi767
If the plug was never installed properly or latched it could shift position when the aircraft was unpressurized until it was able to blow out. It appears the aircraft had pressurization issues the day prior.
Yeah I was thinking that too.

So looking on the bright side, maybe ASA just got a free diagnosis of the pressurization problem!
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Old 6th Jan 2024, 15:47
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Originally Posted by Big Pistons Forever
If the door is missing all its hardware because it is just intended to fill the hole would the door unlocked sensors still be there ?
Whilst I deal with much smaller and faster aircraft than the 737, I'd imagine there'd be numerous microswitches or similar around the door frame, which once released would send an illumination signal to the lighting controller or similar computer.

Although if the theory of the door not being installed correctly holds true, then I guess I'm way off the ball with that theory.
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Old 6th Jan 2024, 15:49
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Originally Posted by MAN777
What potential outcome could there have been had the plug/door/window struck the rear control surfaces ?
That's what I was thinking, I assume the aircraft still has all of its empennage intact?
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Old 6th Jan 2024, 15:51
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Originally Posted by Big Pistons Forever
If the door is missing all its hardware because it is just intended to fill the hole would the door unlocked sensors still be there ?
Good question. They should also have had a Master Caution with DOORS on the right hand annunciator panel as well but as you say; if the thing had taken it's hardware with it then possibly no.
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Old 6th Jan 2024, 15:52
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Originally Posted by Big Pistons Forever
If the door is missing all its hardware because it is just intended to fill the hole would the door unlocked sensors still be there ?
I would be very surprised if they were still there.
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Old 6th Jan 2024, 16:02
  #98 (permalink)  
 
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It's not just the regular E/E door that's been deactivated (hence the absence of the operating lever and the vent panel). It's a purpose-designed blank and likely has no electrical connections at all.
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Old 6th Jan 2024, 16:05
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Originally Posted by VHOED191006
Can we talk about how 5 of their MAX 9s just departed? How long does a "full maintenance and safety inspections" take for one aircraft. Something tells me that you can't do that all within one night..........
unless the inspection is simply making sure the bolts to secure the plug are installed properly or installed at all!
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Old 6th Jan 2024, 16:15
  #100 (permalink)  
 
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Alaska must think they have a handle on the issue as there are plenty of ASA MAX 9s in the air right now, including an ETOPS bird.
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