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Movement of pilot's seat a focus of probe into Latam Boeing flight, report says

reuters.com

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Re: Movement of pilot's seat a focus of probe into Latam Boeing flight, report says

#4
The page Reuters links to is a good read also.

“While the precise details of the incident are not fully known, there is ample historical precedent for unintentional in-flight upsets or electrical issues. In 2014, a digital SLR camera became jammed between the left arm rest and the base of the side stick of a Royal Air Force A330 tanker causing a 4,400 foot loss in altitude and a maximum recorded descent rate of 15,000 feet per minute. The left seat was being moved “at the onset of the event,” according to investigators.In separate 2019 and 2020 incidents, drinks spilled on an A350 radio panel caused the shutdown of one of its Trent XWB engines prompting a redesign of part of the center pedestal that sits between the pilots.“

https://theaircurrent.com/feed/dispatches/pilot-seat-movemen...

Re: Movement of pilot's seat a focus of probe into Latam Boeing flight, report says

#5
post #3

So what could it be this “seat movement” in layman term? The pilot was screwing a stewardess on the seat and inadvertently jerked the joystick causing the plane to nosediving??

The seats are sitting on rails and can be adjusted.

Re: Movement of pilot's seat a focus of probe into Latam Boeing flight, report says

#6
post #5
post #3

So what could it be this “seat movement” in layman term? The pilot was screwing a stewardess on the seat and inadvertently jerked the joystick causing the plane to nosediving??

The seats are sitting on rails and can be adjusted.

Yes, but how could it relate to the nosediving by just adjusting the seat?

Re: Movement of pilot's seat a focus of probe into Latam Boeing flight, report says

#7
post #2

I'm no expert, but it seems quite concerning that something as simple as a seat movement might not be sufficiently isolated from flight systems to prevent an electrical short.

I read this as being caused mechanical, aka the seat moves abruptly forward causing the pilot who wasn’t expecting it to push hard on the yoke which tells the plane to dive. The point of the investigation now then is why did the seat move?

Re: Movement of pilot's seat a focus of probe into Latam Boeing flight, report says

#8
post #6
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The seats are sitting on rails and can be adjusted.

Yes, but how could it relate to the nosediving by just adjusting the seat?

Well if you’re holding a yoke and the seat moves forward you’re likely to push on the yoke

Re: Movement of pilot's seat a focus of probe into Latam Boeing flight, report says

#9
post #6
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The seats are sitting on rails and can be adjusted.

Yes, but how could it relate to the nosediving by just adjusting the seat?

In smaller planes with mechanical adjustable seats instead of electrical there have been several accidents due to the seat moving unexpectedly.

So much that the FAA has made regular inspection of the seat rails mandatory for a long list of Cessna models: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2010/11/08/2010-28...

Re: Movement of pilot's seat a focus of probe into Latam Boeing flight, report says

#10
Just a reminder / plea: please wait for the investigation and report before theorising about what happened, what is wrong, how that can be, allocating blame, etc. There will eventually be a full report with real facts and lots of details. At this point, it's too early to connect any dots.
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