Accident investigators deliver final verdict on fatal Lion Air MAX crash

Boeing, faulty parts supply and airline’s MRO and training criticised.

October 25th 2019

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Four days into his new job as CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Stan Deal has received the final and damning report of accident investigators looking into the deadly crash of Lion Air JT610 MAX, which took the lives of 189 passengers and crew. Read More »

The report, first reported in the media by The Seattle Times, attributed blame for the accident to Boeing’s design and certification of the MAX’s Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS). It said the software solution did not take into account “the likelihood of loss of control of the aircraft”. “A fail-safe design concept and redundant system should have been necessary for the MCAS,” the report said.

It also criticized Boeing for not detecting a software error that caused the malfunction of a warning light on the MAX. Lion Air was blamed for not providing its pilots with sufficient training or information about MCAS.

Accident investigators stated a critical sensor on the JT610 was a faulty second-hand component supplied by a Florida company. There was strong evidence the previous flight of the aircraft had experienced faults that were not tested by Lion Air MRO staff.

The previous flight “that experienced multiple malfunctions was classified as a serious accident and should have been investigated”, the report said.

The aircraft’s cockpit crew was criticised, particularly the first officer. Investigators said he was unfamiliar with procedures and had had difficulties handling the aircraft during training.

Until this week, Deal was the founding president of three-year-old Boeing Global Services. During his 33-year career with Boeing, his roles have included vice president Asia-Pacific sales and Japan Airlines MD-11 program manager

Deal succeeded Kevin McAllister, who left Boeing this week. His departure followed a recent board decision to strip Boeing CEO, Dennis Muilenburg, of his chairmanship of the group.

Although the MAX crisis is the most pressing matter Deal has inherited, there are other significant issues he must navigate to conclusion including the 777X delay, a slowing 787 production rate and the future of the NMA (new midsize airplane).