Thu, Mar 04, 2004
Eleven Safety Improvements Recommended
The Allied Pilots
Association (APA), which represents the 11,000 pilots who fly for
American Airlines, submitted this week its official recommendations
to the NTSB following a nearly three-year long investigation into
the crash of American Airlines Flight 587. As expected, the
organization faulted the aircraft manufacturer. The accident
occurred November 12, 2001, at Belle Harbor, New York, shortly
after take-off of when the aircraft tail separated from the
fuselage.
APA investigators, led by First Officer John David, said four
areas were critical in causing the accident, including the fact
that aircraft manufacturer Airbus failed to notify pilots about the
unique characteristics of the rudder control system. "This airplane
has a rudder system that is 7.32 times more sensitive than the
Boeing 767, a comparably sized aircraft," FO David said. "We looked
at how this sensitivity may have affected the performance of the
aircraft."
After take-off, Flight 587 encountered wake turbulence from a
preceding Boeing 747. The report indicates that wake turbulence
triggered a series of events that led directly to the tailfin
separation. The report also highlights deficiencies in the
aircraft-pilot interface. In addition, APA cited different FAA
oversight responsibilities that the report found need improvement.
In particular, the report is critical of how the FAA certifies
aircraft and how aircraft manufacturers test their flight systems.
The report concludes by issuing 11 safety recommendations to the
NTSB.
"We are satisfied that our investigators have been diligent in
their review of the events that led to this tragic accident," said
FO David. "This was a complex accident in which all factors were
closely considered."
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