Aviation authorities are currently examining an incident involving Southwest Flight 746, where a phenomenon known as a “Dutch roll” occurred during its journey from Phoenix to Oakland on May 25.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Boeing 737 encountered unusual lateral movements, with the aircraft’s tail swaying from side to side and rocking from wingtip to wingtip. The FAA’s preliminary findings highlighted that the aircraft, carrying 175 passengers and six crew members, sustained “significant” damage to the standby power control unit (PCU), which governs the rudder’s operations.
Boeing explains that the term “Dutch roll” refers to the motions similar to those of figure skaters, stating, “Airplanes can make similar lateral and directional motions in flight, rolling and yawing much like a traditional Dutch ice skater rhythmically swaying down one of Amsterdam’s frozen canals.” The company emphasized the importance of maintaining these movements within safety regulations to prevent potential airsickness and ensure overall safety.
The incident concluded without any injuries as the plane successfully landed in Oakland. However, the NTSB noted that while data from the aircraft’s digital flight data recorder was secured, the cockpit voice recorder had its contents overwritten due to its two-hour limit, rendering it unavailable for investigation.
Southwest Airlines has not issued a statement regarding the specifics of the flight and directed inquiries to the FAA and the NTSB. This event adds another layer to an already challenging year for Boeing, whose CEO, Dave Calhoun, announced his resignation by the end of the year following several other incidents involving the aircraft manufacturer.
A full preliminary report from the FAA is anticipated within 30 days of the incident, as stakeholders and the public keenly await further details. This investigation comes at a time when the FAA has confirmed that no similar issues have been reported by other airlines, pointing to the incident as possibly isolated but still under thorough scrutiny.