Eagle in trouble with FAA

[Erlanger]

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Travel/story?id=5930615&page=1

 

[asayankee]

They must have forgotten to add in the weight of the TSA agent hanging off the TAT probe. That sort of thing can really shift your CG!!!

 

[7574EVER]

"Weight and balance problems contributed to the 2003 crash of a US Airways Express commuter plane in Charlotte, NC that killed 21, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. The board's investigation into the crash found "substantially inaccurate weight and balance calculations for company airplanes."

Wasn't it improper elevator rigging?

 

[brokedash]

"Weight and balance problems contributed to the 2003 crash of a US Airways Express commuter plane in Charlotte, NC that killed 21, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. The board's investigation into the crash found "substantially inaccurate weight and balance calculations for company airplanes."

Wasn't it improper elevator rigging?

I belive that crash was determined to have been caused by elevator rig maintainence preformed by poorly supervised mechanics or persons not authorized to conduct that type of work.

 

[BobbyBiplane]

I belive that crash was determined to have been caused by elevator rig maintainence preformed by poorly supervised mechanics or persons not authorized to conduct that type of work.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows.
the airplane's loss of pitch control during take-off. The loss of pitch control resulted from the incorrect rigging of the elevator​

system compounded by the airplane's aft center of gravity, which was substaintially aft of the certified aft limit.

 

[Salukipilot4590]

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows.​

the airplane's loss of pitch control during take-off. The loss of pitch control resulted from the incorrect rigging of the elevator​

system compounded by the airplane's aft center of gravity, which was substaintially aft of the certified aft limit.

Looks like a draw...

 

[great cornholio]

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows.
the airplane's loss of pitch control during take-off. The loss of pitch control resulted from the incorrect rigging of the elevator​

system compounded by the airplane's aft center of gravity, which was substaintially aft of the certified aft limit.

Yeah from what I remember the theory was that the bags might have shifted during TO throwing the CG even farther aft. When the rigging was checked when the yoke was at the full down stop the elevator was only at like 70 or 80% nose down travel. The two combined made it impossible to recover.

 

[kf4amu]

Yeah from what I remember the theory was that the bags might have shifted during TO throwing the CG even farther aft. When the rigging was checked when the yoke was at the full down stop the elevator was only at like 70 or 80% nose down travel. The two combined made it impossible to recover.

I read the nosewheel retracting shifted the CG further aft. Thats when the loss of control happened. The elevator was at full down pitch prior to the gear retract, and once the nosewheel came up, there was nothing left. No mention of bags shifting that I recall.

Oh yea, and a rampie said "The plane looked heavy" as it taxiied.

 

[waterski]

American Eagle is not in trouble they self disclose. Now the pilots on the other hand I don’t know

 

[Amish RakeFight]

AE isn't the only one culpable of this.

 

[freeflyer14]

Best. Comment. Ever.

Large aircraft absolutely must be properly loaded and balanced. The flight navigator spends much of his time pumping jet fuel from wing tanks or belly tanks to keep things in trim. An unbalanced aircraft is vulnerable to sudden shifts inwind direction, especially on final approach. A tail-heavy aircraft will bang its tailbone on the runway during take-off and also on landing.
Posted by:
GlacierCanyon2 Oct-1
M

 

[Erlanger]

Their troubles aint over yet.

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Travel/story?id=6083271&page=1

 

[LowlyPropCapt]

Question:

Does AE use load planners/dispatchers for the w&b or do the pilots do the math themselves?

This appears to be an across the board increase in FAA scrutiny. I know PDT they are cracking down pretty hard on a number of items, especially manual revision status.

Be careful and cover your butt!

 

[AvroGuy]

American Eagle is not in trouble they self disclose. Now the pilots on the other hand I don’t know

We don't do didly as far as weight and balance. rampers call bags to load agent, agent puts into computer, computer sends us an acars message with weights and cg to input into FMS. Oh I am on the CRJ 700. All of our planes use a common load program for specific aircraft that is sent via acars.

we have no control. Well just fuel input but that is it.

 

[LearLove]

Looks like a draw...

I have no doubt in my mind that if the cables had been riggged correctly that the 1900 would have flown just fine on that flight even with an aft cg.

 

[Davi8r]

The flight navigator spends much of his time pumping jet fuel from wing tanks or belly tanks to keep things in trim.

Well, let's hope the flight engineer can navigate ...