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Expert: - 9/14/2006


Question
If an aircraft starts porpoising hard enough, could it cause airframe damage? Or worse could it cause the plane to crash?

Answer
Absolutely! Even a very hard landing where the nosewheel hit perticularly hard can cause the firewall to become bent. Control could also be lost if the pilot cannot cease the porposing, causing a crash.

Read NTSB reports about accidents citing it as a factor here-

http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief2.asp?ev_id=20040608X00766&ntsbno=LAX04LA201&akey=...

http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20040306X00287&key=1

http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20040224X00232&key=1

http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20040114X00063&key=1

http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20050630X00902&key=1

http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20041203X01925&key=1

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D. Norkus

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I can address questions about airline pilot employment & entry level airline careers in the United States, women pilots, flight training, pilot certification, U.S. flight scholarships (mostly for women), aviation & airline safety topics, aviation accident investigation and airline operations. ***Please note, I cannot address flight training & career queries from outside the United States, or aero engineering degree programs/careers, aviation management topics. ****

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Airline captain with 15 years past experience in airline ground operations. I have previously flown as a commercial skydive pilot & ferry pilot and majored in Aviation Science


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International Organization of Women Pilots- The Ninety-Nines, charter member of Women In Aviation International, Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association, Air Line Pilots Association.

Education/Credentials
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University; Aviation Safety/Accident investigation.

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