B737 makes uncommanded rolls

Federal investigators checking reports of 737 making sudden uncommanded rolls

June 2, 2000

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Federal safety officials are investigating an incident in which a Delta Airlines jetliner twice made sudden, uncommanded movements in the skies over Virginia Friday morning.

One flight attendant received minor injuries and the plane landed safely in Atlanta.

The movements occurred on Delta Flight 1495 as it was flying from Allentown, Pennsylvania, to Atlanta. As the plane was climbing to 35,000 feet over Virginia, the plane started to make an uncommanded roll to the left, FAA spokesman Bill Schumann said. The pilot disengaged the autopilot and recovered from the roll.

When the pilot re-engaged the autopilot, the plane made an uncommanded roll to the right, Schumann said. The pilot disengaged the autopilot, recovered from the roll and flew the plane manually to a safe landing in Atlanta, officials said.

Delta said the plane was "buffeted" to the left and then to the right, and said Delta mechanics have ruled out a rudder problem. Instead, Delta spokeswoman Harmony Sockman said maintenance officials have determined the problem was caused by the plane's autopilot.

CNN

-- Rachel Gibson (rgibson@hotmail.com), June 03, 2000