Co-pilot error caused second-worst air disaster in US history

Wednesday, 05 Nov, 2004 0

The second-worst air disaster in US history was caused by a co-pilot making inappropriate rudder movements that snapped the tail fin off the plane, investigators concluded.

The National Transportation Safety Board said elements of pilot training at American Airlines and the sensitivity of flight controls on an Airbus A300-600 also contributed to the crash three years ago that killed 265 people, said AIRWISE News.

“Several human performance and airplane characteristics combined, in a most unfortunate way, to cause the accident,” said investigator Robert Benzon.

Flight 587 crashed in a residential area of Queens, New York, after takeoff 12 November, 2001.

The safety board recommended the Federal Aviation Administration revise standards for the design of aircraft rudder controls on all planes.

Airbus denied any rudder system problems. Said company spokesman Clay McConnell:

We do not believe the facts of the investigation point to sensitivity of the rudder as contributing to the accident.”

Report by David Wilkening



 

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