One can easily switch them with two fingers at the same time.
I tried (with similar switches.): Works. If the locking mechanism fails, even unintentionally.
Getting loose, wristworn jewlery snatched and then pull: Works.
My question to Boeing is:
Why did you cover the neighbouring (stabilizer cut-off, IIRC) switches with red springloaded flip-covers, but not the fuel cut-off switches?
Nope, I strongly disagree with that comparison. One doesn't need to pull up a big stick in hand using elbow and shoulder to flip this fuel switch _down_. Would a car's hand brake stop your engine if it's thumb-push-button lock failed silently and you happen to let something fall on it, like a hand? no. But this little fuel switch would.
There Is a connection: The same type and make of switches, which already where officially found to be prone to subtle malfunction and ought to be checked and replaced. Read the SAIB.
Look at the switches. https://www.xuefeiji.org/public/uploads/weixin_mpimgs/e3/e36...
Your argument of being "totally different" flight decks or fordy ignition switches aside (ignoring that one is allowed to to drive both mentioned cars using the same license, but not two different generations of airplanes, ignoring that the biological concept of generation implies kinship), this affair reminds me of https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_ignition_swit...
Well I'd Never sputter
Good Ma'am or Sir, ARE you implying something like a "MAIN BATTERY EXHAUST"¹ retrofitted to a flagship product because management was impatient and wanted the lighter, better, faster, stronger lithium-ion-battery for their rushed 787-sized baby?
Yes, the S.A.I.B. was about the switch, which is used in many airplanes,
and _should_ be checked and replaced. But they didn't. Because it wasn't mandatory. So my guess is those 50-70€ per switch were too expensive for the airline?
They reported that they replaced the whole middle console twice, so I cannot accept the 'it's pricey' or 'it's non-mandantory' as an excuse.
Hackers gona hack, so I'd like to get my hands on those switches, or better the whole fuel control panel. The pictures don't let me see or feel if a loose front panel could lift those shiny glowy locking knobs up by, say, 2.3mm and therefore unlock those switches, for example.
Only picture I could find online about this malfunctioning switch:
which looks like a really nasty 'mechanical inadequacy': half of the locking mechanism is the shiny glowy knobs. And they could _turn_. WTHolyF!? What where they smoking when designing or reviewing this?
In this fine post here, if you can read chinese or click the translation button on your browser:
(CAVE: I'm not inside boeing's tech support system so I cannot verify this from the original maintainance manual, since they seem to be practically guarded as trade secrets...)
I tried to order some of those switches (766AT613-3D and 766AT614-3D) and hope they get delivered ... this year. Anyone here got their hands on those switches to test their feel when handling or their resiliency?
(My hypothesis is:
Hand on throttle, Hand pushes throttle full forward to start, Hand rests on throttle while accellerating, then pilot does the routine rotate and plane takes of and all is fine and Hand lets go of throttle, Hand falls on both switches directy behind the throttle: Click-click-WTF?-BOOM.)
Of Course almost anyone involved in the airplane industry would prefer this to be a clear-cut case of 'pilot error' or 'Terrorism/Insanity' - but that doesn't exnorate the manufacturer or owner of building and flying an airplane where the engines can be shut off while taking off, IMHO.
As an aside, I especially like the disclaimers on the last page of Honeywells catalogue (this one: https://www.farnell.com/datasheets/2604543.pdf)
- don't use it for anything safety-of-live related.
- if it breaks because we delivered junk, we'll replace the switch - nothing else.
(I'm paraphrasing. Some laywers migth find a way to get out of this. I hope Boeing doesn't.).
Correction, I quoted the wrong price:
Honeywell's 4TL837-3D, which is the switch in the 787s according to the SAIB "EASA_SIB_NM-18-33_1-1.pdf", costs about 1300€. MIL-spec &c. certifications are costly.
Still cheap enough to not risk killing hundreds of people with the flick of a wrist.
Sorry about that.
https://www.xuefeiji.org/public/uploads/weixin_mpimgs/e3/e36...
One can easily switch them with two fingers at the same time. I tried (with similar switches.): Works. If the locking mechanism fails, even unintentionally. Getting loose, wristworn jewlery snatched and then pull: Works.
My question to Boeing is: Why did you cover the neighbouring (stabilizer cut-off, IIRC) switches with red springloaded flip-covers, but not the fuel cut-off switches?