A Boeing 737 operated by Southwest Airlines that was flying from Phoenix to Oakland went into a dangerous side-to-side rolling movement known as a ‘Dutch Roll’.
This happened on the 25th May but was not reported to the National Transportation Safety Board until 7th June. It is not yet known how serious the incident is.
Damage to the Aircraft
No passengers or crew were injured in the incident, but there was reported damage to the aircraft which the FAA said was ‘substantial’.
Structural damage reportedly occurred in the tail fin. There was also damage to a unit that controls backup power to the rudder – the rudder is the part that would normally be adjusted to halt a Dutch roll.
The Investigation So Far
Since the cockpit voice recorder was overwritten after two hours, there is no record of what the pilots were saying during the incident.
However, there is data from the plane that has been downloaded by the NTSB and which can be used to determine how severe the incident was. The NTSB should be able to release an initial report on their findings in thirty days.
Boeing Already in Trouble
Although it is Southwest Airlines that are being investigated about the Dutch roll, there were already questions about the safety of Boeing aircraft.
In April Boeing reported to the FAA that it had discovered tests were not properly carried out on some aircraft to confirm that the wings were properly bonded to the fuselage. There was also a separate case where a whistleblower reported shortcuts in the production process that may compromise safety. Both cases are still undergoing investigation.
Cabin Panel Blowout
On top of all that, a Boeing 737 operated by Alaska Airlines suffered a cabin panel blowout back in January.
During that incident, a boy reportedly had his shirt sucked off him and out of the side of the plane while his mother held onto him. Other passengers were injured. But the plane landed safely.
FBI Criminal Investigation
The cabin panel blowout was so serious that a criminal investigation by the FBI is ongoing.
A group is also suing Alaska Airlines for the distress caused by the incident in which the plane had to make an emergency landing and some passengers had to hold on in case they were sucked out of the aircraft.
False Titanium Documents
The FAA is also investigating reports of falsified documents that certify the titanium used in airplanes.
In this case, it would appear to be the documents not the titanium which is suspect and it may be an issue that is industry-wide and affects other manufacturers.
Cooperating with Investigation
Both Boeing and Southwest Airlines are cooperating with the investigation into the Dutch roll, although both have been tight lipped in their responses to the incident.
Southwest Airlines have simply said that they are cooperating with the investigation while Boeing have deferred comment to the airline, but have also said that they are checking the safety of some of their undelivered planes.
Boeing has an Action Plan
Last month Boeing presented the FAA with an action plan on how it will tackle the issues it is having.
On its website Boeing states that it has a Safety and Quality Plan that aims to tackle various issues such as workforce training, manufacturing processes and elevating safety and quality culture.
Can Boeing Survive?
Formerly a company with an excellent reputation, Boeing is now facing multiple questions about its safety and integrity.
Boeing is busy trying to reassure officials and the public that it is committed to fighting the issues it is having, but as more and more investigations pile up, the issues are not going away. After this latest incident, can Boeing pull out of the Dutch roll it is in and continue to fly safely?
