AA587 and the airbus a300 rudder failure

[Singlecoil]

At some point in your report, you should insert the following:

From the day they start flying, pilots are taught that operating below the "maneuvering speed" for an aircraft means that the pilot can deflect the flight controls to their limits without breaking the airframe. This mishap demonstrates that ain't always so.

Va is the speed at which the aircraft will stall before the positive load limit factor is exceeded. The negative limit load factor, as well as lateral limits can still be exceeded at Va. Many of us were taught as you describe, but it was incorrect.

 

[Bavarian Chef]

so who do you blame for the A310 (Air Transat Flt 961?) that lost a rudder at altitude during cruise a couple years ago?

JetBlue/LUV/Airtran or ALPA or management or commuter pilots or low ticket prices or Congress or old pilots.