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View Full Version : Could this have been noticed?


Avman
27th May 2002, 22:02
NTSB Identification: MIA02IA094

Scheduled 14 CFRPart 121 operation of Air Carrier RYAN AIR INC
Incident occurred Wednesday, May 08, 2002 at Miami, FL
Aircraft:Boeing B737-448, registration: EI-BXI
Injuries: 160 Uninjured.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

On May 8, 2002, about 1600, eastern daylight time, a Boeing 737-448, Irish registration EI-BXI, registered to Aer Lingus PLC, Dublin, Ireland, and operated by Ryan International Airlines, as a Title 14 CFR Part 121 international passenger flight, had a continuous vibration in the flight controls, while en route to Chicago O'hare International Airport, and diverted to Miami, Florida, at 1700. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The airline transport-rated pilot, first officer, 4 flight attendants, and 154 passengers were not injured, and the aircraft received minor damage. The flight originated from Montego Bay, Jamaica, the same day, about 1535.

The pilot stated that the aircraft had been performing normally, but with a slight vibration during the flight to Montego Bay, Jamaica, He said he was not concerned, and the landing had been normal. He further stated that after takeoff from Montego Bay, Jamaica, en route to Chicago, Illinois, the aircraft started vibrating " ten times as bad", and he made the decision to divert and land at Miami, Florida. He said the vibration continued, until "flaps five" was added and then the vibration stopped. He then executed an uneventful landing with emergency vehicles standing by, taxied to the gate, and deplaned.

Postincident examination of the aircraft by Jet Aviation, Miami, Florida, a contracted maintenance facility, revealed that the aircraft had sustained damage to the right elevator trim tab. The examination revealed that a 24-inch section of the right elevator trim tab was missing from the aircraft.

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Just wondering: would this missing 24 inch section not have been noticeable on the ground at MBJ? It's just that I'm thinking if they were already experiencing vibration on the inbound leg I would presume that a thorough walkaround would have been made by the Captain during the turnaround at MBJ. Perhaps it only actually seperated after departure.

chiglet
27th May 2002, 22:22
This topic is [fairly] well supported on this forum under 'Walkround'
we aim to please, it keeps the cleaners happy

Avman
28th May 2002, 12:28
Thanks for the link Chiglet , but that general thread doesn't quite address all aspects of this particular incident.

Tinstaafl
28th May 2002, 13:04
The report states that it was a slight vibration until after the final departure, and then became much worse enroute.

Possibly the missing piece was lose (but not necessarily noticeable) & once it separated the more severe vibration started.

The change in effect ie slight vibration to much worse vibration enroute would seem to indicate a change in conditions would be associated with it.