[NSRCA-discussion] 747 Snap Entry?

[Martin X. Moleski, SJ]

Matthew Frederick wrote:

> Wow, excellent research Marty...

This was the only site I could find that confirmed
John Konneker's version of the story (though not
in every detail):

====== quote ======

Seems "Hoot" decided to extend a little trailing edge flap to improve his 
comfort level at FL390. To do this without getting Leading Edge Devices number 
2,3,6 and 7 out, one must use the Electric Alternate flap extention switches 
over head. But first, one must pull a circuit breaker for the emergency LED 
electric hydraulic pump. If you don't, all the LEDs come out at once, almost 
instantly, when the overhead flap switches are actuated. He did this, as the 
story goes, whilst the engineer was in the main cabin.

When the engineer returned to his seat he noticed the circuit breaker out and 
promptly reset it. Whamo!

The only real injury was the engineer receiving a black eye after getting on the 
ground and with the parking brake set. Hoot then erased the Cockpit Voice 
Recorder. He said it was habit, he always erased the CVR after the brakes were set.

<http://forums.jetcareers.com/general-topics/23065-bad-landing-or-takeoff-in-a-seaplane.html>

====== end quote ======

The fellow who put that up on the forum says, "disclaimer: unverified third-hand 
information!!!"  He didn't give a source for it.

The NTSB turned down requests from Gibson and the ALPA to reopen
their inquiry:

http://www.iprr.org/comps/pet727/PFR2.html

Gibson's appeal to the 9th Circuit was turned down on the
grounds that the court did not have jurisdiction over
the NTSB's actions:

http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/getcase.pl?court=9th&navby=case&no=9570525

The NY Times reported in 1983 that Gibson had sued the government
for libel, but I haven't seen any confirmation of that so far:

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9805E0DD1539F937A25754C0A965948260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all

					Marty