I was flying in a 767 the other day cross country. We travelled through a thunderstorm and the turbulence was quite scary. The pilot had the flight attendants sit down and buckle up. The plane was bouncing around and it felt like the plane was at the weather's mercy. Can a bad storm produce enough turbulence to make a pilot lose control of an aircraft? It sure felt like the pilots did not have much control.
2007-07-12 18:37:15 · 13 answers · asked by b_radgmo 3 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Aircraft
To be blunt, yes, turbulance can take an airliner out of the sky...
It would happen by either overstressing the wings and causing them to break off... Or by causing a roll that would result in a high-speed stall due to excessive bank angle and that would lead to a spin...
Understand that the pilot does not have control of the airplane during climb, cruise, or descent... therefore, it is the computer making 100+ adjustments per second to keep the airplane safe...
Also, know that it is extremely rare for any airplane to experience any trouble... and I have not heard of an airliner crashing due to turbulance in the cruise phase of flight in my lifetime...
2007-07-13 04:10:48 · answer #1 · answered by ALOPILOT 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
In Dallas in the early 80's a Lockheed L1011 had a deadly crash while landing beneath a thunderstorm. Around 1970 a DC-9 fell out of high altitude flight while flying through a thunderstorm, and before that several large planes lost control or snapped under the stress of turbulence. Now with advanced airplane designing and weather tracking, it is EXTREMELY unlikely an airliner would loose control from turbulence
2007-07-13 17:24:57 · answer #2 · answered by Mark A 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Flying over the Rocky Mountains in the 60's studying turbulance a B-52 lost 90% of its verticle stabilizer and all of its rudder. A combination of skill and unique design features allowed the pilot to land. the nearest runway that he was lined up for was at an airbase in Louisiana. He couldn't risk trying to turn due to the extreme risk of a spin.
Commercial aircraft make a point of avoiding turbulance because shaking up passengers is bad customer relations if nothing else. The B-52 was looking for turbulance and found it.
Be careful driving to the airport that is the most dangerous part of your trip.
cheers
2007-07-13 10:25:56 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Technically yes, factually no.
As far as I know there hasnt been a turbulence related crash for an airliner. The ride is uncomfortable when in trubulence and the airplane might be momentarily out of control, but so far no airliner has crashed due to it.
Turbulence is the leading cause of aviation injuries and it is advisable to heed the crews warning when turbulence is encountered.
Most turbulence can be detected using weather radars and avoided if required.
2007-07-13 04:45:22 · answer #4 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Like regional airline guy said,
A rough ride through the sky can be deadly if a pilot flies into an area of turbulence and does not slow to the Mmo or Vmo...these are called the maximum mach..and/or maximum operating speeds...If you have a speed of 350 knots..and a Vmo of 230 knots..this would mean that the airplane was tested in turbulence up to that speed plus 30%..but the 30% is not guaranteed.....So with this...if you punch into something rough at 350 knots..and the placard says you can only do it safely at 230 knots...then...you may have yourself a problem with keeping the airplane in one piece..or bending something...or nothing at all....all airplanes are different...even ones of the same model...being they are one of the few things still built by hand.....
2007-07-13 14:15:05 · answer #5 · answered by Captain J 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
YES... though today the wings are stronger and aircraft have gone through ENDLESS computer testing to determine the operating limitations.
Also, with the advances in weather detection, communications, and ATC... airliners are simply steered AROUND the weather.
I recall back in 1990 being in a Navy Helicopter and riding thru the wake-turbulence of a C-141... CHRIST what a bounce !!
2007-07-13 10:53:07 · answer #6 · answered by mariner31 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not in today's aviation. With the advances in digital processor radar your pilot can now detect turbulence and windshear in time to avoid the must jarring hits. Although occasionally someone is still injured when a plane plunges due to unseen turbulence, the aircraft is much tougher than you imagine.
2007-07-14 00:29:44 · answer #7 · answered by Itchy Rash 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You know it depends on how strong the storm is. It happens very rarely, may be one in 10 years, but yes, a very large and powerful turbulence can take down plane in sea(It won't happen in the country since all weather people have open eye) but some times it is very hard to get immidiate weather report to PLANES flying over seas. Planes can not talk to tower across country so they have to rely on a machine that transmits written data as fax machines.
2007-07-13 02:58:07 · answer #8 · answered by Flying Soldier 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
yes, its possible but what you experienced is pretty common especially flying over the midwset because of those nasty updrifts and thunderstorms. I don't think you were in any danger.The piulots had control. I have been in turbulance that produces a drop big enough to get "air time". Unless you ae going through a hurricane don't worry. Airplanes rarely just drop out of the sky these days.
2007-07-13 01:50:04 · answer #9 · answered by Panda 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
No........if you are in a 747 757 767 787 777 you will be good.Its is all about the aircraft and how heavy the turbulenece is.
2007-07-13 06:49:17 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋