[cpdiii]

Gunrunner, what is your opinion on the American Airlines A300 crash. POS airplane? Pilot Error? Both? or bad output from the onboard computer augmented flight control system? It seemed to me the NTSB pointed the finger at the pilot in haste? Particularly given the propensity of this craft to lose its rudder in straight and level flight.

What would be the indicated airspeed that would allow full rudder deflection and still be within design limits and what kind of margin over the design limits would be built into a craft like this?

[Gunrunner2]

Gosh, asking some pretty detailed stuff.

I am not a heavy driver. I flew fighters. So what does that make me: A fighter pilot and someone that is willing to comment on anything, anything at all, and at any time.

;-)

Anyway, rudder deflections are a problem under certain conditions.

Rudder limits are placed on aircraft all the time and usually are based upon the position of the landing gear and/or flight parameters. While rudders are stressed for certain flight conditions, extreme deflections and/or reversals can and do place the rudder out of design limits.

That said. I did not read in detail the mishap report and am not able to definitively make an assessment as to the "cause." I can guess and my guess is "pilot error." Kills me to say that, but most likely.

Sressed for certain parameters, flight controls abruptly input causing moments and transverse-G beyond what was designed for. . .yeah, I think pilot error. Of course, there may be material factors as well.

How's that for a tap-dance?