Investigators say a Southwest Airlines jet that experienced an unusual “Dutch roll” in flight had been parked outside during a strong storm and underwent routine maintenance, after which pilots noticed odd rudder pedal movements.
After the May 25 incident, Southwest mechanics found “substantial” damage in the aircraft's tail, where the rudder is located. Still, the National Transportation Safety Board said Tuesday that it hasn't determined when the damage occurred.
According to data from Flightradar24.com, the Boeing 737 Max plane was grounded for more than a month but resumed flights last week.
Dutch roll is a swaying, rhythmic combination of yaw, or the tail sliding sideways, and the wingtips rocking up and down. The Southwest jet experienced the movement at 34,000 feet and again after descending to 32,000 feet while flying from Phoenix to Oakland, California.
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The condition can be dangerous, and modern planes have a “yaw damper” to stop the oscillations that characterize Dutch roll.
After the plane landed, Southwest mechanics found fractures in the metal bracket and ribs that held a backup power control unit to the rudder system. Investigators examined the damaged parts last week in Ogden, Utah.
The NTSB said the plane was parked overnight at the New Orleans airport on May 16 during thunderstorms that packed gusting winds up to 84 mph, heavy rain and a tornado watch.
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The plane underwent scheduled maintenance on May 23, and afterward, pilots noticed the rudder pedals moving when the yaw damper was engaged. The NTSB said that pilots on the May 25 flight felt the pedals moving during the Dutch roll and even after landing.
Southwest inspected its 231 Max jets last month and found no other cases of damage around the rudder power units and no problems in new planes it has received since, according to the NTSB.
Dallas-based Southwest declined to comment.
It could be a year or longer before the NTSB determines a probable cause for the incident.
