Obama aircraft diverts...

SteveC

"Laconic"
Staff member
NTSB TO INVESTIGATE INCIDENT INVOLVING MIDWEST AIRLINES
PLANE CARRYING SENATOR OBAMA

************************************************************

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating an
incident at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport in which
a chartered Midwest Airlines airplane carrying Senator
Barack Obama made an uneventful precautionary landing due to
a suspected flight control anomaly.

At about 9:30 a.m. CDT this morning, a McDonnell Douglas MD-
81 airplane (N804ME), operated by Midwest Airlines as Flight
8663, diverted to St. Louis, Missouri, during a flight from
Chicago, Illinois to Charlotte, North Carolina. There were
no injuries to the 48 passengers and crew.

NTSB Chairman Mark V. Rosenker has designated Todd Fox as
the Investigator-in-Charge for this incident. Fox is
expected to arrive on scene this afternoon.

Post-flight inspection of the airplane revealed an in-flight
deployment of the aft emergency exit slide within the tail
cone.

Preliminary information indicate that the crew disconnected
the autopilot during climbout from Chicago, while being
vectored around thunderstorms, when they reportedly felt
elevator control forces that were heavier than normal. They
therefore elected to make a precautionary landing at St.
Louis. After landing, it was learned that the aft emergency
exit slide had deployed within the tail cone. The tail cone
did not separate from the airplane.
 
It's a right wing conspiracy

Actually, umm, it's the aft tailcone! ) All the right wing has is slats, trailing edge flaps, six spoiler panels and a non-hydraulically assisted aileron. Oh, maybe wing heater blankets too.

That's a mad dog thing!
 
Perhaps someone screamed, in their Arnold Swartzenegger voice:

"Dammit Cohagen, you got what you want! Now give these people some air!""

...then popped the tailcone.
 
I actually wasn't even aware there was a slide on the tail in the mad dog.

Slide Trivia:

The RJ7 and RJ9 both point slightly nose down so the MCD sits low enough to the ground to meet the FAA requirement for NOT needing a slide.
 
I actually wasn't even aware there was a slide on the tail in the mad dog.

Slide Trivia:

The RJ7 and RJ9 both point slightly nose down so the MCD sits low enough to the ground to meet the FAA requirement for NOT needing a slide.

Main cabin door I presume?
 
Yeah. Main Cabin Door.

I'll agree with Ed too. The 200 looks like crap compared to the 145/135 but the 700 looks much better (I think).
 
He was HOPING to make it to his destination on time with no hassle, but circumstances forced a CHANGE in plans.

<rimshot>
 
I actually wasn't even aware there was a slide on the tail in the mad dog.

Slide Trivia:

The RJ7 and RJ9 both point slightly nose down so the MCD sits low enough to the ground to meet the FAA requirement for NOT needing a slide.
Yes there is, as well as on the DC9. Least favorite part of the preflight, well except sticking my head in the wheel wells with hydro pumps screaming, is having to walk back there and check that pedro isn't back there. LOUD
 
National Transportation Safety Board
Washington, DC 20594

July 10, 2008

************************************************************

UPDATE ON NTSB INVESTIGATION INVOLVING MIDWEST AIRLINES
AIRPLANE CARRYING SENATOR OBAMA

************************************************************

The following is an update on the National Transportation
Safety Board's investigation of the incident involving the
Midwest Airlines MD-81 airplane carrying Senator Barack
Obama on July 7, 2008, in which the tail cone evacuation
slide deployed in-flight.

Preliminary findings reveal that the slide was partially
inflated and the inflation bottle was empty. Examination of
the hardware did not reveal any evidence of missing
components, nor any evidence of tampering.

The slide and hardware were removed from the aircraft for
examination. There was no evidence of any punctures in the
slide; however, there were marks consistent with rubbing of
elevator control cables. Additional evidence was found to
indicate that a catwalk railing was broken and impinged upon
elevator control cables. The slide and hardware will be sent
to the manufacturer for detailed examinations supervised by
the NTSB.

The flight recorders have been removed and are en route to
NTSB headquarters for download and analysis. Flight crew
statements indicate that the crew did not hear the slide
deploy in flight nor did a mechanic who was seated in the
rear of the airplane. The flight crew confirmed that they
detected elevator control stiffness during the initial level
off after departure from Chicago Midway Airport. Maintenance
records have been secured for further examination.

Research has been initiated into the certification of the
slide, its service history, and its design interface with
the airplane.

The NTSB completed the on scene phase of the investigation
yesterday.

Click the links below to view larger images:

Photos:
* Deployed tail cone evacuation slide from incident
airplane:
http://www.ntsb.gov/Pressrel/2008/Deployed_slide.jpg
* Undeployed tail cone evacuation slide as installed on
another aircraft:
http://www.ntsb.gov/Pressrel/2008/Undeployed_slide.jpg

Deployed_slide.jpg




Undeployed_slide.jpg
 
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