Heroic Response to Flight 232 Incident

Sep 11, 2024

United Airlines Flight 232 Incident

Introduction

  • The podcast discusses the events of United Airlines Flight 232, a DC-10 aircraft incident on July 19, 1989.
  • Focus on the heroic actions of the flight crew and cabin crew, airmanship, and teamwork.
  • Disclaimer about sensitive topics regarding loss of life.

Background

  • Flight from Denver to Chicago, normal operations until an explosion at 37,000 feet.
  • The DC-10 aircraft had advanced hydraulic systems but lacked physical connections between flight controls and surfaces.

Aircraft Systems

  • Hydraulic Systems:
    • Three hydraulic systems, one for each engine, with emergency turbine for backup.
    • Redundancy built into the system to mitigate risks of damage.
  • Issue with Engine:
    • Manufacturing defect in the number two engine fan disc caused fatigue cracks leading to failure.

Incident Timeline

  • Flight Crew:
    • Captain Alfred Haynes (30,000+ hours)
    • First Officer William Records (20,000 hours)
    • Flight Engineer Dudley Dwyer (15,000 hours)
    • Total 296 people on board.
  • Explosion at 15:16 led to loss of thrust control in engine number two and failure of all hydraulic systems.

Flight Crew Response

  • Promptly executed engine failure checklist.
  • Realized loss of pitch and roll control, risk of spiral dive.
  • Used differential thrust to stabilize the aircraft.
  • Cabin crew informed to prepare for emergency landing; Captain Finch (a passenger with experience) was invited to assist.

Airmanship and Decision Making

  • Captain Finch had studied similar incidents and had practical experience with differential thrust operations.
  • Communication & CRM (Crew Resource Management):
    • Effective use of all crew resources improved chances of survival.
  • Mayday call made; air traffic control provided vectors to Sioux City.
  • Discussed extending landing gear to absorb impact energy despite risks.

Approach and Landing

  • Aircraft in a fugoid motion due to control loss; descended towards runway 22.
  • High-speed landing with right wingtip touching first, resulting in aircraft breakup but landing on an airport perimeter.

Outcome

  • 185 survived, including all crew members.
  • Investigation led to changes in DC-10's hydraulic systems to prevent future occurrences.
  • Investigators praised crew's extraordinary performance under extreme circumstances.

Conclusion

  • Emphasized importance of CRM and thorough preparation for unexpected events.
  • Captain Finch’s proactive training demonstrated the value of constant learning and readiness.
  • Encouragement for viewers to consider subscribing for more aviation content.