Airframe (44 page)
Authors: Michael Crichton
PRIVILEGED INFORMATION—FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
| R EPORT N O : | IRT-96-42 | T ODAY’S D ATE : 18 April |
| M ODEL : | N-22 | I NCIDENT D ATE : 08 April |
| O PERATOR : | TransPacific | F USELAGE N O : 271 |
| R EPORTED BY : | R. Rakoski, FSR HK | L OCATION : Pacific Oc |
| R EFERENCE : | a) AVN-SVC-08764/AAC | |
| S UBJECT : | Severe Pitch Oscillations in Flight |
D
ESCRIPTION OF
E
VENT
:
Reportedly during cruise flight a “Slats Disagree” warning appeared on the flight deck, and a member of the flight crew extended the slats in an attempt to clear the warning. Subsequently the aircraft experienced severe pitch oscillations and lost 6,000 feet altitude before control was returned to the autopilot. Four persons died, and fifty-six were injured.
A
CTION
T
AKEN
:
Inspection of the aircraft revealed the following damage:
1. The interior cabin sustained substantial damage.
2. The Number 2 IB slats proximity sensor was faulty.
3. The Number 2 slats locking pin was found to be non-PMA.
4. The Number 1 engine thruster panel was found to be non-PMA.
5. Several other non-PMA parts were identified for replacement.
Review of human factors revealed the following:
1. Flight deck procedures require added carrier scrutiny.
2. Foreign repair procedures require added carrier scrutiny.
The aircraft is in the process of being repaired. Internal procedures are being reviewed by the carrier.
David Levine
Technical Integration
Product Support
Norton Aircraft Company
Burbank, CA
For Sonny Mehta
Books by Michael Crichton
The Andromeda Strain
The Terminal Man
The Great Train Robbery
Eaters of the Dead
Congo
Sphere
Travels
Jurassic Park
Rising Sun
The Lost World
Disclosure
Airframe
Timeline
Michael Crichton
’s novels include
The Andromeda Strain, The Great Train Robbery, Congo, Jurassic Park, Rising Sun, Disclosure,
and
The Lost World
. He was also the creator of the television series
ER
. Crichton died in 2008.
