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.