Southwest Airlines Boeing jet’s ‘Dutch Roll’ triggers FAA investigation

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation after a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 Max aircraft experienced a “Dutch roll” on a flight from Phoenix to Oakland, California, on May 25, causing “significant” damage to the aircraft.

Documentation on Boeing’s website describes a “Dutch roll” as when the nose of the aircraft “can swing from left to right while simultaneously pitching the aircraft from side to side.” The maneuver is triggered by “wind or pilot input.”

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is also investigating, it said on Friday.

A preliminary FAA incident report states that the Southwest Airlines plane “experienced a Dutch rollover, control was regained, and damage to the standby PCU (power control unit) was noted during post-flight inspection.”

When the incident occurred, there were 175 passengers and six crew members on board the Boeing jet. According to the Associated Press, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is also currently investigating.

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On April 12, a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 is parked at a gate at Baltimore-Washington Airport in Baltimore. (Angus Mordant/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

The FAA and Southwest Airlines did not immediately respond to a request for comment from FOX Business on Friday.

The Boeing website states: “Ice skaters use the outside edge of their skates to move across the ice, rocking from side to side and simultaneously moving left, then right, and back again.”

“Aircraft can perform similar lateral and directional movements in flight, rolling and yawing, much like a traditional Dutch ice skater glided rhythmically along one of Amsterdam’s frozen canals,” it continues.

“Just as ice skaters avoid over-swaying and losing their balance, airplanes are designed to keep roll and yaw within legal limits to ensure safety – and potentially reduce the risk of airsickness,” Boeing said.

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A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft in Baltimore. The FAA is investigating an incident on a May 25 flight from Phoenix to Oakland, California. (Angus Mordant/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

The Southwest Airlines incident came as Boeing investigates whether some fasteners were improperly installed on its undelivered 787 Dreamliner planes, the aircraft maker told FOX Business on Friday.

A Boeing spokesman said: “Our 787 team is testing fasteners in the fuselage area of ​​some undelivered 787 Dreamliner airplanes to ensure they meet our technical specifications.”

A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 takes off from Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles on May 5. (Kevin Carter/Getty Images / Getty Images)

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“The in-service fleet can continue to operate safely,” the spokesperson added, noting that the issue was discovered during regular quality control checks. “We take the time necessary to ensure that all aircraft meet our delivery standards prior to delivery. We work closely with our customers and the FAA to keep them updated.”