Flight with disabled controls: Difference between revisions

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*[[Reeve Aleutian Airways Flight 8]], a [[Lockheed L-188 Electra]], on 8 June 1983. Flying over [[Cold Bay, Alaska]], the plane's number 4 engine propeller detached itself from the engine and cut a hole in the plane as it flew underneath it. The resultant damage inflicted by the propeller caused an explosive decompression, severed cables connected to the plane's throttles and control surfaces and left the flight deck crew of three with only autopilot that had no lateral control. After managing to wrench the ailerons and elevators into minimal working condition, the crew tried to land at Anchorage at high speed. They had to make a go-around, but landed on the second attempt, saving all 10 passengers on board.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ntsb.gov/aviationquery/brief.aspx?ev_id=20001214X43286 |title=DCA83AA029 |publisher=Ntsb.gov |date=1983-06-08 |access-date=2014-03-08}}</ref>

*[[LOT Polish Airlines Flight 5055]], an [[Ilyushin Il-62]]M, on 9 May 1987. According to the Polish investigatory commission, the cause of the crash was the disintegration of an engine shaft due to faulty bearings inside engine No. 2, which seized, causing extensive heat. This in turn caused the consequent damage to engine No. 1, [[rapid decompression]] of the fuselage, and a fire in the cargo hold, as well as the loss of elevator controls and progressive electrical failures. ZygmuntThe Pawlaczykcrew decided to return to [[Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport|Warsaw Okecie Airport]] using only [[trim tab]]s to control the flight of the aircraft. HeThey lost histheir struggle to land about 5&nbsp;km from the runway in the Kabacki Forest. All 172 passengers and 11 crew members perished.<ref>Gero 1997, p. 199.</ref>

*[[United Airlines Flight 232]], a [[McDonnell Douglas DC-10]], on 19 July 1989. A fan disk in the No. 2 engine fractured, severing most of the flight controls. [[Dennis E. Fitch|Dennis Fitch]], a [[Deadheading (aviation)|deadheading]] DC-10 instructor who had studied the case of [[Japan Airlines Flight 123|JAL Flight 123]], was able to help the pilots steer the aircraft using throttle differential. Despite the break-up of the aircraft on landing, 175 of 285 passengers and 10 of the 11 crew members survived.<ref>Gero 1997, p. 210.</ref>