CNN: Boeing whistleblowers called FAA after Ethopian crash
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CNN: Boeing whistleblowers called FAA after Ethopian crash
I thought I would provide a separate thread here on this issue since it is really orthogonal to the debates about whether the pilots could have / should have been able to save the plane. One interesting claim (and I take news reports with a grain of salt) is that there were allegedly problems with the "MCAS control cut out switches" whatever that is supposed to refer to. Food for thought and at the very least an indication of the problem that Boeing faces in the public's mind. A 15-minute IPAD self instruction course is probably not going to be an adequate response to this issue.
Boeing insiders contacted FAA after Ethopian crash report released
(Sort of interesting example of poor design just happened when I tried to create a post here for the first time. If you hit backspace too many times you can somehow get out of the focus of the edit window, and then Microsoft Edge interprets the backspace as a "go to previous page" command, making you lose all of your typing. User error to hit backspace too many times, but....)
Boeing insiders contacted FAA after Ethopian crash report released
Among the complaints is a previously unreported issue involving damage to the wiring of the angle of attack sensor by a foreign object, according to the source.
Boeing has reportedly had previous issues with foreign object debris in its manufacturing process; The New York Times reported metal shavings were found near wiring of Boeing 787 Dreamliner planes, and the Air Force stopped deliveries of the Boeing KC-46 tanker after foreign object debris was found in some of the planes coming off the production line.Other reports by the whistleblowers involve concerns about the MCAS control cut-out switches, which disengage the MCAS software, according to the source.
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I read that article, and another that gives the same content, plus a lot more background material: https://interestingengineering.com/b...roblems-to-faa
Neither article gives sufficient detail to interpret properly, in the context of the detailed system understanding of MCAS and the cutoff switches discussed elsewhere. The stories seem to muddy the waters, create uncertainty, and may or may not be relevant.
One whistleblower reported to the FAA that they had seen damage to the electrical wiring connected to the plane’s angle of attack sensor from a foreign object, which feeds data to the MCAS system so it can determine whether it needs to engage to prevent the plane from stalling.
CNN's track record for accurate reporting has suffered badly the last few years (and not just with regard to the current POTUS). They've become far to fast to report a 'juicy story' without bothering with due-diligence to make sure the story really has some substance. It's gotten to the point that if I see something on my news feed that says "CNN", I'll just keep on scrolling.
Not saying there might not be some truth there, but I'm with lomapaseo - I'd take it with a very large grain of salt until we know more.
Not saying there might not be some truth there, but I'm with lomapaseo - I'd take it with a very large grain of salt until we know more.
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Other reports by the whistleblowers involve concerns about the MCAS control cut-out switches, which disengage the MCAS software, according to the source.
You can just switch off all the electrical trim so MCAS has no more way to affect it.
But there are switches that cut it out - but with side effects.
That being no manual electric trim & a manual trim wheel that has for years been marginal in several areas of flight - that may or may not work.
That being no manual electric trim & a manual trim wheel that has for years been marginal in several areas of flight - that may or may not work.
