Regulators knew before crashes that Boeing 737 Max trim control was confusing in some conditions

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Regulators knew before crashes that Boeing737Max trim control was confusing in some conditions

SINGAPORE - US and European regulators knew at least two years before a Lion Air crash that the usual method for controlling the Boeing 737 Max's nose angle might not work in conditions similar to those in two recent disasters, a document shows.

It specifically noted that at speeds greater than 230 knots with flaps retracted, pilots might have to use the wheel in the cockpit's centre console rather than an electric thumb switch on the control yoke. Boeing declined to comment on the EASA document or its advice to Lion Air, citing the ongoing investigation into the crash.

The trim system adjusts the angle of the nose. If the nose is too far up, the jet risks entering a stall. The trim wheel is a relic of the Boeing 737's 1960s origins and does not appear in more modern planes like the 787 and Airbus SE A350. It is not often used, several current and former 737 pilots told Reuters.

CONFUSING SIGNALS The night before the Lion Air crash, different pilots on the same plane faced a similar problem with MCAS and tried to use electric trim to counteract it, according to the preliminary report from Indonesian investigators. On the 737 Max, Boeing removed the"yoke jerk" function that enabled pilots to disable the automated trim system with a hard pull on the control column rather than hitting two cut-out switches on the centre console.

 

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On the positive side, parked Boeing737Max aircraft make great softdrink cans, already painted in Pepsi colors too!

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