Boeing 737 Safety Questioned

Posted 01/07/97

HOW SAFE IS THE WORLD'S MOST POPULAR AIRLINER?

From: T. D. Ponder
Airline Transport Pilot
(10.000+ hours PIC)
Birmingham, AL


The FAA recently issued an A.D. (Airworthiness 
Directive) for Boeing 737 aircraft that incredibly 
does not offer to solve KNOWN problems with the 
aircraft's Rudder Power Control Unit, but instead 
mandates crew training so pilots can attempt to 
survive sudden control problems.

NTSB investigators remain unsure why two Boeing 737s 
crashed, one near Pittsburgh and the other in Colorado, 
although rudder problems definitely are suspected. 
The 737 is the most popular airliner today with 2,705 
flying world wide, including 1,115 in the U.S.

The FAA mandate requires Flight Manual changes and crew 
training to instruct pilots how to correct jammed or 
restricted flight controls. That's right. That is what 
it says! The FAA has said that test by Boeing showed 
the 737's Rudder Power Control Unit under "extreme 
conditions" could jam and even go in the OPPOSITE 
direction from that desired. 

Imagine the fun of THAT on a gusty landing! I certainly 
would call a rudder movement in a direction opposite 
from input an "extreme condition" at amy time or 
altitude.

Is using training to overcome a mechanical uncertainty 
a viable solution for one of the worst conditions a 
pilot could ever face?

The FAA goes on to suggest a pilot lower the nose in 
such a situation to increase airspeed and regain 
control of the aircraft. The FAA does NOT clarify, 
to my knowledge, if this procedure is to be used only 
at altitude or maybe at Decision Height on an ILS 
night IMC approach. 

What kind of idiot would do such a thing to an aircraft 
already out of control due to Rudder Hardover (sudden 
rudder movement) mere feet above a runway. What? Just 
slam her down, possibly split the gear, and MAYBE walk 
away saying that is what I was told to do?

The pilots who fly 737s, the Boeing Co., and the FAA 
have known about these problems for years. A fellow 
flight Instructor I gave instruction to in aerobatics 
subsequently was hired by Piedmont, now US Air, of course, 
and he told me in the early 1970's that the 737 would get 
into a "Roll Oscillation" condition on approaches under 
gusty or turbulent conditions. He said the plane would then 
have to be flow manually, with locked elbows (and clinched 
jaws) to force the yoke steady, until the aircraft 
stabilized. Other pilots have told friends of unexpected 
and sudden Rudder Hardover at altitude and said they 
did not think they would have recovered had they been on 
approach. There was no indication of problems from the 
crews involved in the two approach crashes, so you know it 
happened suddenly and that it was unrecoverable.

The FAA apparently is making no attempt to solve the 
mechanics of the problem, but instead is imposing upon 
crew members the edit to break its own rules --- namely 
those FAA rules that require, in terms of aircraft and 
airman certification, that no unusual or extraordinary 
piloting techniques or abilities be required. 

This A.D. presents a ludicrous position unworthy of 
the FAA. 

Additionally, a standby procedure is mandated that 
requires the switching off of the rudder's hydraulic 
assist system under prolonged conditions and executing 
approach and landings manually. Let's hope the lady 
pilots who are type rated in 737s have had their Wheaties 
before preflight.

It is my opinion that there still exist the potential 
for disasters until the actual problem is solved. 
Components should be redesigned, if necessary. 

The resolution of this problem belongs to Boeing, 
the FAA, and the Air Carriers -- certainly not to 
the pilots in the cockpit where it is just a little 
too late for engineering, or attempts at aerobatics 
on short final with a plane full of paying passengers.

I have sent Email to the NTSB, the FAA, and most 
US Senators concerning this critical problem. If you 
feel there is merit to this discussion, please at 
least contact your Senators and recommend yet another, 
closer look into the situation. 

On the Internet, go to:

 http://www.senate.gov/senator/state.html

where you will find a list of US Senators, by state, 
with links to their Email addresses in Washington.

If you have flow or are currently flying 737's and have 
experienced critical problems of this nature, please 
send me Email with a brief summary, signed preferably, 
or anonymously if necessary. I shall forward the 
information to your Senators (provide your state of 
residency, please) and other appropriate sources. 
Please state if you are currently flying 737s, 
which model numbers and the approximate date, location, 
and flight conditions during an occurrence. 

Send Email to me:

T. D. Ponder

tdp...@juno.com 

or

tdp...@thewantads.com

This situation needs to be resolved immediately before the 
possibility of lives being lost unnecessarily becomes a 
nightmare in reality. 
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