ATR 72 A Death Trap??

[icepac]

It's accident rate seems consistent to other planes in it's class when you factor in a time frame and units in service.

Higher than some but quite a bit lower than others.

[earl1937]

Earl I posted a link to the ATR's quick reference handbook. All is there.

Now stop calling people idiots and blaming them for something they are completely innocent of.

I am not calling anyone an idiot! I just think they made a mistake in the tail design and for money reasons, refuse to change it!

[PR3D4TOR]

Yes you did. In your first post.

Another great engineering feat by some idiot somewhere that lives by numbers alone and not what the thing will actually do.

[earl1937]

The old Islander had a Vmc that was below stall speed as well.

Once an aircraft stalls, the VMC is not relevant as the pilot no longer has control over the aircraft until it regains flying speed!

[PR3D4TOR]

Vmc slower than Vstall shows that the size of the rudder (and other control surfaces) is adequate at any speed where the plane is actually flying.

[dirtdart]

Mbailey. After air alaska i try to dodge md80s as much as i can.

[colmbo]

Once an aircraft stalls, the VMC is not relevant as the pilot no longer has control over the aircraft until it regains flying speed!

But knowing Vmc is relevant regardless if it falls above or below stall speed.  That knowledge gives you an idea of what may happen at the boundaries of the performance envelope.

[colmbo]

I've always felt that I still had control of the aircraft even when it was stalled, albeit your options may be limited as to what you can make the aircraft do but you still have control.  (This does not apply equally to all aircraft)

[mbailey]

Mbailey. After air alaska i try to dodge md80s as much as i can.

Was that the one with the faulty / improperly greased Jackscrew?

Not a fan of the MD11 as well

Good to see I'm not the only one   

[PR3D4TOR]

DC-9/MD80 is a perfectly safe airplane when properly maintained and operated.

[mbailey]

DC-9/MD80 is a perfectly safe airplane when properly maintained and operated.

To each their own

[colmbo]

DC-9/MD80 is a perfectly safe airplane when properly maintained and operated.

But the vertical stab is too small.  Have you seen that thing?  It is one smurfy airplane.

[PR3D4TOR]

 

[dirtdart]

Yep jackscrew.  I have been in a few airplane mishaps. I hate flying tbh. Scariest of all was flying out of Baghdad headed home on R&R and getting painted by a sam. At least something that made the pilots chop throttle and flare. Scary. Frankly it is the reason I love being  a jumpmaster. Something happeneds to the airplane I stand up and say number one jumper follow me.... lol.

[PR3D4TOR]

The jackscrew was only a problem on that one bird where the jackscrew was overdue for replacement and Alaska doubled the time between services leaving the already worn out screw with no lubrication. Combined with the pilots' trying to "troubleshoot" it after it had jammed resulting in a complete failure. The plane was doomed by a long series of bad decisions made by people ranging from the company leadership all the way down to the guys holding the yokes.