Pilot Error Blamed In 2001 Crash That Killed 265

WRAL-TV ^ | October 26, 2004

[NCjim]

Report: Co-Pilot Over-Stressed Rudder

Federal safety officials say pilot error caused a 2001 American Airlines crash that killed 265 people.

The National Transportation Safety Board said the copilot of Flight 587 moved the rudder back and forth several times, putting so much stress on the tail that it snapped off. The plane plummeted into a New York neighborhood shortly after takeoff.

An NTSB investigator said the copilot's reaction to turbulence was "unnecessary and aggressive." He also said the airline improperly trained its pilots to use the plane's rudder to recover from upsets.

The jet's rudder control system is sensitive at higher air speeds, which could be dangerous, according to the investigator.

Both American Airlines and the plane's manufacturer, Airbus Industrie, agreed the pilot's actions caused the tail to rip off. The airline said Airbus didn't warn about the danger of sharp rudder movements until after the wreck.

[thoughtomator]

That damned pilot, it's all his fault that a terrorist blew up his plane. That is, whatever fault isn't Bush's.

[maestro]

The jet's rudder control system is sensitive at higher air speeds, which could be dangerous, according to the investigator. Both American Airlines and the plane's manufacturer, Airbus Industrie,...

......it's ALWAYS high speed!

/colonial sarcasm

[Shermy]

"Pilot error"

Best solution to minimize drop in American Airlines and Airbus stock values.

[BadAndy]

"...copilot of Flight 587 moved the rudder back and forth several times, putting so much stress on the tail that it snapped off."

I'm not a pilot, but it seems odd that the manufacturer would build a plane where sharp rudder movements would snap off the tail. I would think they would strengthen the tail or build in safeguards to prevent such rudder moves. Is this the case with other planes or is the airbus flimsy?

[US admirer]

Sorry to say but the human scum garbage POS plaintiff attorneys will hold American Airlines responsible for this and seek to get millions and millions and millions from them. Just remember, someone is always to blame (as long as the someone has money).

[A.A. Cunningham]

Much more detailed report at pilot error.

[Radix]

I do not know very much about flying jets, but this sounds like a whitewash to me. Blaming the dead pilot(s) is pretty convenient.

The timing and location of that crash was quite the coincidence. I will never forget that Officer who told Osama to kiss his ass and that he lived in Rockaway. The next thing you know is a plane crashes in the Rockaway Boulevard neighborhood.

I think that I'll wear a tin foil hat when I read about this case. Too many coincidences.

[jeffo]

Shame on Airbus for placing the "Disengage Tail Rudder" button so close to the "Fasten Seat Belts" button.
</sarcasm>

[oldcomputerguy]

What bothers me about reading about this event was the comment that the rudder could move *more* than intended.

What that means to me is that since this plane is a fly by wire plane, the affected part can overshoot its intended point of equilibrium, unlike a hydraulically operated component. That smacks of bad s/w at best and an inherent flaw in fly by wire designs at worst. It does not make me feel better about flying in one of these planes.

Having said that, I accept the report that the co-pilot was at fault. The issue is could he have known and the answer is probably not a chance.

[First_Salute]

Bump.

[El Buscador]

I have been in aviation for 40 years and there is no way Airbus would put out an A/P with a weakness in a control surface like that. The A/P would never be certified. Same with Flt 800 the fuel probes only have 6 volts DC running into the probe. No way it could generate enough heat to blow up the tank. JP4 fuel is bascically kerosene. The SOB's think no one knows anything about aircraft but them. I am insulted that they believe everyone of us are so stupid