Air Crash Investigations: Cutting Corners (S01E05)

[KarriKoivusalo]

Alaska airlines extended the inspection interval past the manufacturer's *overhaul* interval, used inadequate maintenance methods and faulty service equipment (bad inspection jigs), had counterfeit maintenance records, put people pointing out the problems in aircraft safety on permanent leave and yet somehow I'm reading how this is the fault of Douglas design? Help me to understand the logic here, people. Similar jackscrews are used in thousands and thousands of planes without any problems.

[SoulKittyKat]

This was irony telling people that an airline called Alaska Airlines has no business being in Mexico...

[sunnchilde]

There's an easy way to fix this. You have a meeting with the company executives and senior maintenance people. You tell them, if there is ever a safety issue, if someone wants to do something for safety reasons and you want to override them, you can, but then if there are deaths that result from your override, then you WILL spend the next 20 years in Federal Prison. Do you fully understand us?

[Ilovekirby]

@sunnchilde That will never work. Whatever amount in fines that the airline would have to pay, that airline will always gamble because the airline's profits from keeping old parts will likely exceed any fines it maybe would have to pay (assuming that few or none of these tragedies actually happen)

It is sick but it is also the truth.

[Hypernl]

One of the saddest events ever.

[Noeladishi]

Makes ye lose faith in humanity when you watch this. I despise people who's only goal in life is to make money.

[johnsill1]

So now they inspect jackscrews at 400%, but what about other maintenance-something else will pop up then they will increase that by 400%.give me a break

[FLT111]

Why did the pilots recieve the stick shaker during the initial dive, I mean the aircraft actually did not stall the airspeed never decreased, any idea?

[Jackrabbitslim47]

With respect to Mr. Nance, I take the opposite view of losing vertical control of their airplane. If the flight deck crew cannot control vertical position of their aircraft how much more serious can it get

[eman83a]

i wonder if the ceo's of alaska airlines cut their bonuses in order to cut costs along with their maintenance budgets?

[bttawfiq]

The First Officer looks like Paul Newman!!

[singissar]

airline adds right next to a episode of aircrash investigation doc.

little bit ironic dont you think?

[o0Spyder0o]

just shows how piss weak our governments are. We tell our kids not to put up with bullying but it's rife in administration. Dare tell and you'll regret standing up for your self. My wife is the victim of school principal bullying. You might think it won't happen to you, but when it does, you're all alone.

[starmanskye]

A BIG critique of the kind of Vampire Capitalism our nation and much of the world is now victimized by, & which has been imposed by greedy corporations who place profits above people, is that whistleblowers are routinely severely punished for upholding principles of safety. decency, efficiency and/or justice. This occurs not only in business but also in our institutions, especially in Politics/government, the military/Pentagon/CIA/NSA, Banking/FED, & Justice Dept/Law Enforcement. FAIRNESS NOW!

[aliG3x3]

and the most worst thing is that these jackscrews are still in operation today. and there was nothing to change the architecture or something else.

[KangaKucha]

@aliG3x3 well mind you, there are less MD-80s in the air, and idk about other planes based off them, but there aren't many planes in the air with this design anymore. This could happen again w/o proper mantanence, but hopfully it will not happen, hopfully....

[ChorltonBrook]

We're going through another 'economic downturn' today. I wonder how many crashes will happen ?

[jmitterii2]

This type of accident really pisses me off.

[jmitterii2]

They need to find that asshole that lined out the prior engineer's order to have the jack screw replaced and hold him for negligent man slaughter and charged separately for each person who died on board. And when found guilty, that asshole can serve 88 years in prison, a year for each of his offenses. And the members of the board who changed the intervals should also face criminal charges of negligent man slaughter.

[mortozashoeb]

... Why did not this guys go back to the the origin right after finding this issue? Management seems to be putting bad words on them in the name of business ... garbage ...

[LyssisVoice]

The father's last comment at the end of the episode was one of the most heartwrenching things I've ever heard on ACI.

RIP

[TheDqwt]

yes your dads a pilot

[gamingsight]

My dads a pilot

[FLT111]

10:35 - 10:53 is cut out on natgeo, discovery channel.

[Serostern]

ONE bolt?

What happened to airplane redundancy?

[GregMiller07]

What bothers me is that whistle blowers should expect never to work in their trade's industry again. Normally, whistle blowers are individuals who point out and report major, not minor, discrepancies in the way procedures are supposed to be carried out. They report situations where major assests and often, and more importantly, human lives, are at risk because what is supposed to be being done is not being done. How can someone be punished for that? Do what is right in the first place!

[EnigmaDrath]

They tried to fly the plane upside down ... Whenever I watch such episodes where the pilots fought till the bitter end to save the plane and its passengers; even though I know what the outcome was, I still can't help but watch and go, "Come on, guys. Come on, you can do it. Don't give up. You can save it ... " :'(

[Elthehablo]

Big respect for the pilots I would've just gave up

[Elthehablo]

Fuck they should check everything be4 takeoff

[MegaGuitar87]

some brave pilots never lost hope RIP.

[BRUCEBAUM45]

Here we go again, what else but a crash of an md- 80! Almost every single airplane crash happened with an md-80! If you value your life do not step foot on an md-80 or dc-10 which is the newer version!

[ThePratinTheHat]

Alaska Airlines doesn't seem very reliable.

[Elthehablo]

@ThePratinTheHat I guess they don't make their own planes, someone else made them so what you say doesn't make sense... 0.o

[ThePratinTheHat]

@Elthehablo Yes but airlines are the ones responsible for maintenance.

[psychobollox]

The airline despatch centre should have insisted that they made a safety landing before it got to that last section of the flight in which the plane crashed.

[o2ntenz]

this was neglect for maintenance, not a design flaw by McDonnell Douglas. MDC made great airplanes and they are safe. Boeing and Airbus are no different than MDC airplanes. (I have 31 years of aviation experience, worked for MDC and Boeing a combined years of 25 years. FAA A&P, )

[pubuman]

@o2ntenz Er... The NTSB specifically stated that there WAS a design flaw in the stabilizer system of the MD - 80 ... so what you say is utter crap.

[edwardschlosser1]

When this type of criminal negligence on the part of a company occurs, it should be handled the way the Chinese handle it. All the company officers including the CEO and the CFO should be lined up before a firing squad and executed. It is also obvious from all the crashes that MD-80's have been involved in that they are unfit for safe air travel, and should be immedicately removed from service. I would never fly Alaska Airlines, and would never set foot on an MD-80.

[etcpool]

Thanks for bringing this :)

[TheDreamer138]

MD aircraft are not save.

[LiamC123321]

Absolutely disgusting crash (I nearly used the word accident there, but it wasn't one).

[hannahrenz]

the First Officer's hair is weird. he looks like he just woken up from sleep.. :-|

[psychokinrazalon]

23:20 Maybe it'd be a good idea to install cameras on important parts of the plane's exterior.

[dom12011]

how about the md-80

[TheRayman62]

i am not going to be a pilot when i grow up.

[FlightSimTutorials]

McDonnell Douglas goes into my book as one of the most unreliable manufacturers out there. Their planes are plagued with design flaws and other issues. I will never fly on an MD plane as long as i live! Good thing they are defunct. Sad they have taken many lives with planes like the DC10 and others.

[jollyboi024]

@FlightSimTutorials thats why i think they`re using DC10 for cargo only on this date.

[dachocolateprincess]

@FlightSimTutorials I have to agree with you McDonnell Douglas engineers really should be ashamed of themselves. However, Delta still uses some MD-80's.

[edwardschlosser1]

@dachocolateprincess Good reason not to fly Delta. The MD-80 is a piss poor design. Engines belong on wings, not to the rear where ice and wing parts can fall off and destroy an engine.

[dachocolateprincess]

@edwardschlosser1 Funny you should say that, check out Scandinavian Airlines Flight 751, that's exactly what brought the plane down due to inadequate deicing. 

[SchoolSarge]

@FlightSimTutorials MD made really good choppers though. It's the only arm of their business that still operates after they went bankrupt.

I think to a large extent (as with any aircraft) their reliability depends on how well maintained they are, and maintenance for the DCs was often poor. I agree with you though; their planes seem to have a history of shocking accidents. However, if you want to see a DC-10 pushed beyond its limits and still fly, check out the episode "Fight for your Life".

[valarmanwe]

@FlightSimTutorials Trouble is, suppose it`s the only plane available ? A few years ago I booked a flight from London to New York ( for Friday 13th November 1992, to be exact ). I turned up at the Airport, and it was a DC10 that awaited me. I could hardly demand a different plane.

[JEnokokame]

@FlightSimTutorials

there has been quite a amount of tragic accidents with Boeing planes too.

But if you look at the bigger picture, thousands or even millions of planes function in the world every single day...those planes that result in accidents only account to a small fraction of those planes & usually it's caused by maintenance problems.

McDonnell Douglas is 1 of the largest plane manufacturers in the world, and their planes are some of the most used worldwide.

[irishgeal1]

lets be very clear folks, its profits first and safety last, period.

[Jaxabean]

This episode usually makes me tearful. Those pilots fought so hard to keep that plane in the sky. Very, very sad :o(

[Abujamra2]

@Jaxabean What do you expect, they just let the plane dive down to the ocean and went play chess? Of course pilots fight so hard, it was their lives too. Maybe some people should shut their mouths (keyboards) sometimes with those sentimental and empty statements.

[Jaxabean]

@Abujamra2 Odd, I thought this was a public forum, therefore I could say whatever I wanted. Didn't realise that there were arsehole comment police patrolling the millions of comments posted.

[Dolphindream15]

next time I  travel Im GOING BY SHIP!

[salihseyma61]

@Dolphindream15 always remember a ship can sink! The safest transport is walking lol!

[Dolphindream15]

@salihseyma61  YOU HAVE A GOOD POINT THERE

[YashaWhiteTiger]

at 32:49 why the FUCK is he laughing?!?! THEY ALL DIED!!! SO WHY IS HE LAUGHING OR SMILING!!!!!! some people make me sick!!!!!!!!

[marynia821]

they were so close.... i really thought they'll make it:( R.I.P:(

[Ducky888888]

Is the person who overruled the change of the jackscrew is in prison?

I dont think so but he should be.

[collegeman1988]

It's important not to upset the schedule . . . even if it kills the crew and the passengers.

[snellevoetbaltimo]

24:28

[sharpo30]

Sorry for the lost of life, God please bless the dead.

[LambosWebs]

RIP :-(

[taxman9922]

Shinky.

[LucasSchaaf]

Couldnt the flaps on the wings have compensated a bit for the rear wing? At least to take them down, and make a emergency water landing.

[stevedrummond1]

@LucasSchaaf

That plane doesnt have controls for up and down on the wings, its all on the tail

[LucasSchaaf]

@stevedrummond1 I know, but the air brakes must have helped getting it lower to the ground so they could make a water landing?

[joeking88]

It's not fair that the honest, good people get punished

[Byos4902]

@joeking88

Sadly, no good deed goes unpunished.

[TheJuli1241]

@joeking88 Yes you're right

[victoriaindigo]

Dispatch has no concern for safety, just their "flow" for money-making

[mattstorm360]

@victoriaindigo at first thay think the problem is just nothing in till the plane went down