FAA investigates Southwest 737 MAX crash after near Mach 1 roll

The FAA is investigating a May 25 Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 flight from Phoenix to Oakland during which the aircraft, registered N8825Q, with 175 passengers on board, experienced a “Dutch roll.”

At 32,000 feet, the aircraft experienced an out-of-phase oscillation, simultaneous yaw and roll motions, like a car skidding on ice, and made unstable corrections to its flight path. The flight crew managed to regain control of the aircraft and land safely on Runway 30 at Oakland International Airport approximately 55 minutes later.

Interior view of the 737 MAX 8 of Southwest Airlines

The aircraft’s standby power unit, which serves as a backup in the event of a failure of the main power unit and controls the rudder essential to maintaining directional stability, was significantly damaged. This is classified as an accident.

Black box data showed extreme G-forces of +3.18 to -3.52 at a top speed of 450 knots. There were speculations that the aircraft may have briefly exceeded Mach 1.0, although this was not confirmed by investigators.

The aircraft remained grounded in Oakland for nearly two weeks and was then taken to Boeing’s facilities in Everett, Washington, for further evaluation.

Since the incident occurred in a 737 MAX, it requires further investigation due to other problems with this aircraft type.

More from View from the Wing