[Author’s Name]
[Institution’s Name]
Essay on United Flight 232
Aircraft accidents can be a tragic thing. Some people may argue that all are avoidable. But when considering this statement, one must always remember there is an element that is in all accidents, Humans. Either through design, being flown by, or maintained by, humans are in all aspects of flying. As long as humans are in 100% control of an airplane there will be accidents.
However, a good side to an accident is it is thoroughly researched by the NTSB (National transportation and safety board). From a majority of those accidents, something can benefit aviation in general. Aviation can be benefited through design, training, or in this situation, re-evaluating current limitations to a safer level.
The focus of my project is going to be on a particular accident that took place on July 19, 1989 when a McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10 aircraft crashed in Sioux City, Iowa.
This particular type of aircraft, at the time of the accident, had been in production for about 18 years. The United Airlines jet was bound for Chicago when the tail-mounted engine broke apart and severed the aircrafts main hydraulic lines. Without hydraulics the aircraft wouldn't be able to maneuver. It would also have trouble slowing down for landing. This meant trouble for United Airlines flight 232 with 285 passengers and 11 crew- members on board.
United flight 232 was enroute from Denver to Chicago on the afternoon of July 19, 1989.
On the flight deck that day were Captain Al Haynes, a 30,000 hour pilot, First Officer William Records, and Flight Engineer Dudley Dvorak. Along with eight flight attendants, there were 285 passengers on board the DC-10. Shortly after crossing into Iowa, the aircraft began a gentle right turn to take it direct to Chicago.
With Records flying, there was a loud bang from the rear....
