The Aviation Herald reports on an incident that a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 MAX recently encountered, which is now being investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This incident was so serious that the plane was flown to Paine Field in Washington after the incident for Boeing to investigate, and the jet hasn’t flown a passenger flight since.
In this post:
Southwest Boeing 737 MAX encounters Dutch roll
This incident happened on Saturday, May 25, 2024, and involves Southwest flight WN746 from Phoenix (PHX) to Oakland (OAK), carrying 175 passengers and six crew members. The flight was operated by a one-year-old Boeing 737 MAX 8 with the registration code N8825Q.
Around 40 minutes after takeoff, the aircraft was at 32,000 feet, when it experienced a Dutch roll. For those not familiar with a Dutch roll, this is an aircraft motion consisting of an out-of-phase combination of “tail-wagging” (yaw) and rocking from side-to-side (roll). Below is a video that explains this in greater detail.
The crew was able to regain control of the aircraft, and 55 minutes later, it landed safely on Oakland Airport’s runway 30.
An inspection was performed on the aircraft upon landing, and damage was discovered with the PCU (the power control unit, which also controls the rudder). This incident was so serious that the aircraft remained on the ground in Oakland all the way through Thursday, June 6, 2024. At that point, the plane was ferried to Paine Field (PAE) in Washington, where Aviation Technical Services, one of Southwest’s maintenance vendors, is based. The aircraft has been on the ground there ever since.
The FAA is now investigating this incident, reporting the following:
“AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A DUTCH ROLL, REGAINED CONTROL AND POST FLIGHT INSPECTION REVEALED DAMAGE TO THE STANDBY PCU, OAKLAND, CA.”
What should we make of this 737 MAX incident?
It’s hard to know what to make of this — not only is this beyond my area of expertise, but even those more knowledgable than me seem to be a bit puzzled, so we’ll let the investigation reveal what happened.
First of all, a Dutch roll is a serious incident that most commercial pilots will never experience in their life, outside of a simulator. Going back decades, there have been multiple crashes due to Dutch rolls, so this has the potential to be serious.
It’s a bit surprising that this hasn’t gotten more media attention in the weeks since the incident happened, especially since it involved a 737 MAX. You’d think with certainty that passengers onboard would have felt all of this, given the G-forces one would feel with this kind of a swaying motion. So did it not feel so bad in the cabin, or how exactly has this flown under the radar?
I certainly hope this is an isolated incident, and doesn’t reflect a bigger issue with the Boeing 737 MAX. No matter what caused it, hopefully an investigation can reveal the root of the issue. A Dutch roll is something you don’t ever want to experience as a pilot or passenger, and the fact that this aircraft was damaged makes it all the more concerning…
Bottom line
A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 MAX operating a routine flight a few weeks ago experienced a Dutch roll, whereby the pilots struggled to maintain control of the aircraft. Upon landing, damage was discovered to the aircraft, so the plane was grounded. The plane has now been flown to Paine Field, where the incident is being investigated by engineers and the FAA. This couldn’t have been pleasant for those onboard the aircraft…
What do you make of this Southwest Boeing 737 MAX incident?
I have noticed there seems to be more airplane incidences since the airlines instituted their DEI program. I certainly hope I am wrong or there will be more events with different outcomes.
@Ben a bit more is coming out now with reports of serious damage to a certain part of the aircraft system and counterfeit documentation relating to titanium used on the airframe.
The moot question is: why didn’t this incident receive sufficient media attention? Boeing has been under a lot of flak for not paying due attention to safety procedures and quality in manufacturing which it was very focused on previously as it involves hundreds of lives.
If you actually look at a video of a Dutch roll, you’d know why passengers don’t feel it.
For those in the comments wonderering: We Dutch do not care one bit about others’ negative use of the term “Dutch”. We are the most awesome anyway.
Forgot to add: But we Dutch do actively avoid the Booing 737Max. Not just because these are flying disasters waiting to happen (If it ain’t Airbus, I’m taking the bus). because as the tallest people on the planet we really don’t fit the lavatories!
Dutch Rudder?
I literally did this demo in the Embraer sim at FL360 with my clients!
If the airplane was t a lower altitude, it might have been caused by some weird turbulence but at level 300 it looks like mechanical.
Boeing has been in comfortable position too long. Now their products are full of hidden issues. This won’t be the last.
I like chocolate sprinkles on my Dutch roll!
Ben, it's not in the news because the name "Dutch roll" isn't scary & there's no scary video either. They need either or both for clicks.
This wouldn't happen on Delta.
Very interesting. No mention of the yaw damper being failed. On functional check flights in the T-43A (Boeing 737-200) we would disengage the yaw damper, intentionally induce Dutch Roll at 15,000 feet then engage the yaw damper and the roll had to stop in one and a half oscillations in order to pass (which was pretty impressive). 41 years flying the 737, five USAF and 36 airline. I remember the yaw damper inop was in...
Very interesting. No mention of the yaw damper being failed. On functional check flights in the T-43A (Boeing 737-200) we would disengage the yaw damper, intentionally induce Dutch Roll at 15,000 feet then engage the yaw damper and the roll had to stop in one and a half oscillations in order to pass (which was pretty impressive). 41 years flying the 737, five USAF and 36 airline. I remember the yaw damper inop was in the MEL and could be dispatched inop. I flew a trip once and it was not fun in turbulence. I recommend no more trips flown until repaired after that flight.
would be interesting to know if the yaw damper can be MELd on a MAX
It cannot be on Delta.
Knowing the Southwest pilot group, one pilot probably wanted to show off to the other. He shut the autopilot off and executed the dutch roll. Then the flight attendants probably called the cockpit and said all the passengers are wondering what just happened. So the pilots didn't want to get reported so they blamed it on the plane. If so, they are in violation of the FARs since you have to have an autopilot engaged...
Knowing the Southwest pilot group, one pilot probably wanted to show off to the other. He shut the autopilot off and executed the dutch roll. Then the flight attendants probably called the cockpit and said all the passengers are wondering what just happened. So the pilots didn't want to get reported so they blamed it on the plane. If so, they are in violation of the FARs since you have to have an autopilot engaged at that altitude. That's my take, knowing that pilot gtoup.
Was that the same group that kicked out the UA deadhead?
Jim,
What do you base your knowledge of the Southwest pilot group on? After flying in the military, I flew for Southwest for 19 years. As a commuter for my entire career, I jump seated on Southwest, as well as numerous other carriers. My scariest scariest landings were on other carriers. Those scary moments were rare, but I remember them vividly.
Yeah capitalism and their monopolies/oligopolies, and their race to the bottom...metaphorically AND literally!
are you just trying to see how many irrelevant buzz words you can cram into a single sentence?
I’m not flying a 737 Max, period. I prefer A320s anyway and I don’t think Delta has any Maxs. I just don’t trust that model at this point. Why risk it?
Delta currently does not. They are expected to have some 737 MAX 10s in 2027.
Delta would never
Where does the name Dutch roll come from?
Dutchland.
From a particularly sweet pastry made by the Dutch that's so good that every bite makes you want to shake your bum and sway side to side at the same time :)
The motion resembles that of a long distance ice skater swaying side to side. The Dutch love long skating trips when the canals freeze.
This is a big deal. They need to find out the exact cause asap.
I suppose that is better than a Dutch rudder.
How many residents of the Netherlands are waking up, reading OMAAT, and learning that there’s an aircraft safety issue named after them?
In South Korea splitting the bill after a meal or something is known as "Dutch pay"
In the US it's called "Dutch treat," no idea of the genesis of the phrase and it's one that's not heard often anymore.
Created by the British to insult the Dutch back during the age of the European empires.
Even young people in the US still say "going dutch" to refer to splitting the check. It's based on the (not untrue!) stereotype that, if you're being mean, the Dutch are cheap, and if you're being kind, that they think it is more fair if everyone pays their own way. Even work colleagues will often charge one another for bringing a coffee. It's a wild scene.
What’s wrong with clarity and equal cost sharing?
jumping two ropes is double dutch
In the U.K. it’s “going dutch?”
Also "the flying Dutchman"
What about the notorious Dutch Oven.
"I certainly hope this is an isolated incident, and doesn’t reflect a bigger issue with the Boeing 737 MAX." Uhhh there's been how many MAX incidents in the past few years now?
Not to be confused with a Dutch rudder
Or a Danish roll, which is delicious.
Or the bacon roll…actually buttie is better:-)
Or a Dutch 200 (bowling score)