transcript
show notes
An invisible crack in a titanium disc, a supposedly unbreakable plane component, threatens a flight. What would you do when the impossible happens?
The invisible crack that exploded a plane
This episode recounts the harrowing experience of United Airlines Flight 232, when a catastrophic engine failure disabled all hydraulic systems. It explores the extraordinary decisions made by the flight crew in a situation for which no procedure existed.
Event: United Airlines Flight 232
Date: July 19, 1989
Aircraft: McDonnell Douglas DC-10
Engine: General Electric CF6
Location: Over the American Midwest
- A farmer in Iowa discovered a large titanium disc, part of a General Electric engine, three months after the incident.
- The DC-10, delivered in 1971, had logged over 43,000 flight hours and 16,000 takeoff-and-landing cycles.
- The engine's stage-one fan disc contained a microscopic crack, invisible to standard inspection methods, that had grown since its forging.
- Investigators found two forgings with identical serial numbers and conflicting paper trails, making it impossible to definitively identify the origin of the failed disc.
- Captain Al Haynes, First Officer Bill Records, Flight Engineer Dudley Dvorak, and off-duty check pilot Denny Fitch faced a complete loss of flight controls.
Tired of ads? Listen to this podcast and 200+ more ad-free on OBOMEDIA.
Try it free for 7 days, cancel anytime: https://obomedia.com/en/gratis?ref=desc-7307849
© 2026 Created by an independent creator of the OBOMEDIA Network. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the property of their respective creator, who is solely responsible for them, and are distributed by the OBOMEDIA Network on platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and Pocket Casts. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without the creator's prior written permission is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.
The invisible crack that exploded a plane
This episode recounts the harrowing experience of United Airlines Flight 232, when a catastrophic engine failure disabled all hydraulic systems. It explores the extraordinary decisions made by the flight crew in a situation for which no procedure existed.
Event: United Airlines Flight 232
Date: July 19, 1989
Aircraft: McDonnell Douglas DC-10
Engine: General Electric CF6
Location: Over the American Midwest
- A farmer in Iowa discovered a large titanium disc, part of a General Electric engine, three months after the incident.
- The DC-10, delivered in 1971, had logged over 43,000 flight hours and 16,000 takeoff-and-landing cycles.
- The engine's stage-one fan disc contained a microscopic crack, invisible to standard inspection methods, that had grown since its forging.
- Investigators found two forgings with identical serial numbers and conflicting paper trails, making it impossible to definitively identify the origin of the failed disc.
- Captain Al Haynes, First Officer Bill Records, Flight Engineer Dudley Dvorak, and off-duty check pilot Denny Fitch faced a complete loss of flight controls.
Tired of ads? Listen to this podcast and 200+ more ad-free on OBOMEDIA.
Try it free for 7 days, cancel anytime: https://obomedia.com/en/gratis?ref=desc-7307849
© 2026 Created by an independent creator of the OBOMEDIA Network. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the property of their respective creator, who is solely responsible for them, and are distributed by the OBOMEDIA Network on platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and Pocket Casts. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without the creator's prior written permission is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.
links1
