The plane, a Boeing 737 Max 8, was flying at an altitude of 34,000 feet from Phoenix to Oakland, Calif., around 8 a.m. Pacific time on May 25 when the flight crew members said they experienced what is known as a Dutch roll, the N.T.S.B.
A Dutch roll is “a coupled oscillation” that creates simultaneous side-to-side and rocking motions, producing a figure-8 effect.
The phenomenon is believed to have been named by an aeronautical engineer who compared it to a traditional ice skating technique made popular in the Netherlands.
If unaddressed, the wobbling can become more exaggerated, creating a dangerous feedback loop.
“It’s a weird movement of the airplane, an oscillation that, if not dampened or stopped, could continue to get worse and worse,” said Jeff Guzzetti, a former accident investigator for the F.A.A.
Persons:
”, Jeff Guzzetti, “
Organizations:
Southwest Airlines, Federal Aviation Administration, National Transportation Safety Board, Boeing
Locations:
Phoenix, Oakland, Calif, Netherlands