PILOT SPIN
Pilot Zone => Accident Review/Never Again (I hope..) => Topic started by: PeterNSteinmetz on October 27, 2021, 11:23:17 AM
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So the former chief technical pilot is being indicted for intentionally withholding critical information as a form of fraud in the 737 Max fiasco.
(placed here as related to two accidents)
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/former-boeing-737-max-chief-technical-pilot-indicted-fraud
Case documents on RECAP https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/60650264/united-states-v-forkner/
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I have to believe that more than just the one person was involved
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I have to believe that more than just the one person was involved
Reading the indictment, the allegation is that Forkner knew that MCAS was operational at lower speeds, like 0.2 Mach, and that the technical submission to the FAA initially said it was only operational above 0.7 Mach. Forkner then allegedly approved submission of revisions to these materials without updating that issue. I guess as chief technical pilot, their allegation is that he had an affirmative duty to ensure this change was included.
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Reading the indictment, the allegation is that Forkner knew that MCAS was operational at lower speeds, like 0.2 Mach, and that the technical submission to the FAA initially said it was only operational above 0.7 Mach. Forkner then allegedly approved submission of revisions to these materials without updating that issue. I guess as chief technical pilot, their allegation is that he had an affirmative duty to ensure this change was included.
I find it difficult to believe that no one else at Boeing knew the specifications were in error. Where were the safety engineers? Where were the QA people? (never mind that the system engineers should have been all over such a gross error in technical specification)
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I have no doubt others are involved. As a technical person myself having worked in a corporate environment, I am very familiar with how this works.
“In an attempt to save Boeing money, Forkner allegedly withheld critical information from regulators,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Chad E. Meacham for the Northern District of Texas.
I suspect the truth is more like, “In an attempt to comply with management’s demands to save Boeing money, Forkner withheld critical information against his better judgment.”