Southwest ‘Dutch roll’ not caused by 737 production or design: Boeing chief engineer

Boeing’s top engineer insists the 25 May incident involving a Southwest Airlines 737 Max 8 which experienced ‘Dutch Roll’ was due to factors specific to the aircraft involved rather than the jet’s design or to its production system. Speaking during a 18 June Senate hearing, Boeing chief engineer Howard McKenzie also revealed more detail about an issue involving 787 fasteners. McKenzie says Boeing believes there is a “unique circumstance” around the Southwest narrowbody “that has nothing to do with design or manufacturing”, but cautioned that the National Transportation Safety Board still needs to complete its investigation. “We are pulling together the data that we have, and it does not indicate that there is anything that is of fleet concern here,” he adds. The NTSB is investigating the incident, saying the jet experienced an “oscillation event” and that a later inspection revealed structural damage. The Southwest pilots described the movements as a “Dutch roll”, which involves a combination of yawing and rolling. But much about the incident remains unknown. Senators pressed McKenzie during the hearing, called by the subcommittee to probe Boeing’s quality and safety issues. “The Dutch roll is an oscillation due to the rudder actuator responding to a particular circumstance that it is in,” McKenzie says. “Thus far… the data we have indicates that this airplane underwent some unique circumstance that is particular to this airplane”. “We are supporting the NTSB with our design resources,” he adds.<br/>