Aloha Flight 243: How A 737 Landed After Losing Its Roof
byEU Plane Spotters-
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In aviation, explosive decompressions can be a dangerous occurrence. Air pressure changes during these events more quickly than oxygen can leave a person's lungs, and debris and unsecured objects are aggressively propelled into and around the aircraft. In 1988, there was one such occurrence that left a Boeing 737 with part of its roof missing upon landing.
An iconic interisland trip
Interisland flights define the Hawaiian commercial aviation market, as anyone familiar with it will attest. Aloha Airlines was one such airline that operated between the state's islands over its 62-year existence, which ran from 1946 to 2008.
Due to the fact that they would typically operate multiple short flights per day rather than, say, a lengthier round trip, their aircraft accumulated a higher number of flight cycles faster. The airline operated the two Boeing 737s with the most number of flight cycles in 1988; the second aircraft was a 737-200, N73711.
Photo: enzinho | Shutterstock
Known as Queen Liliuokalani, the twinjet had completed approximately 90,000 cycles and accumulated about 35,000 flying hours throughout its 19-year service. The aircraft, flight 243, was scheduled to depart Hilo at 13:25 local time on April 28, 1988, with a destination of Honolulu. It would prove to be an eventful short hop for the 89 passengers and 6 crew members.
Horrible decompression
Earlier that day, N73711 had completed flights without any problems, reaching a planned altitude of 24,000 feet. But tragedy came at 13:48 local time when a section of the plane's roof burst on the left side, close to the front of the cabin. The 737 began to roll left and right as a result of the controls becoming less tight.
5.6 metres of the aircraft's roof between the cockpit and the wings were torn off, along with the cockpit door, as a result of an explosive decompression that followed. Flight attendant Clarabelle Lansing was tragically swept from the aircraft by the strong rush of air. Her body has still not been located. All of the passengers were buckled in and seated, and she was the only fatality
Safely on the ground
It was critical to get the aircraft back to the ground as soon as possible after this abrupt turn of events. The plane was forced to divert to the adjacent Kahului Airport on the island of Maui as a result. The pilots had to deal with an engine failure during the pretty dramatic fall. Moreover, they were unable to determine if the landing gear was down.
Thirteen minutes after the initial decompression, the aircraft safely landed down despite these difficulties. Then, 65 of its occupants suffered injuries while they were evacuated by slides. There were about eight severe injuries, and as the airport had no facilities for these kinds of situations and just two ambulances, the passengers had to be transported to the hospital in vans.
The aircraft had to be written off following the event. Because it couldn't fly anywhere else, it was disassembled there in Maui. Metal fatigue was the cause of the decompression, according to the NTSB's study into it. Another contributing issue was crevice corrosion, which also included poor maintenance and inspections. Contributing causes included the FAA's, Boeing's, and the Aloha maintenance department's shortcomings.
As a result, the disaster served as a teaching tool and altered the aviation sector significantly. It made older airplanes more visible and worthy of attention. Additionally, the parties gained additional knowledge regarding the pressurization cycles of a plane that frequently conducts brief interisland trips. At Honolulu International Airport (HNL), a memorial garden honoring Clarabelle Lansing has been established.
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