Crew Saved Seriously Damaged Aircraft Following Catastrophic Failure

The Allied Pilots Association (APA), collective bargaining agent for the 13,500 pilots of American Airlines, heralded the performance of Captain Catherine Mertz and First Officer Scott Palmer when their Fokker 100 experienced a catastrophic engine failure and other damage on takeoff on September 4, 2003.

Captain Mertz and First Officer Palmer were awarded the prestigious 2003 Daedalian Lieutenant General Harold L. George Civilian Airmanship Award by the Order of Daedalians for "the most outstanding ability, judgment and/or heroism above and beyond normal operational requirements." The Order of Daedalians, the nation's premier fraternal organization of military pilots, presented the award at its annual awards dinner on Saturday, June 5 in Riverside, California.

"We are very proud of and grateful to Captain Mertz and First Officer Palmer," said Captain John E. Darrah, APA President. "They exhibited superior airmanship under extremely challenging circumstances, and are a credit to their profession."

A flock of large birds collided with the Chicago-bound jet as it was taking off from New York's LaGuardia Airport. The right engine immediately experienced an uncontained failure, and the bird strike also seriously damaged the fuselage, radome, and right wing, causing heavy vibration. Unsure of the extent of the damage to the landing gear doors, the pilots initially delayed retracting the gear. Upon discovering that the aircraft would neither climb nor accelerate, Captain Mertz and First Officer Palmer retracted the flaps and gear. Since the vibration increased with speed, the crew elected to keep the aircraft's speed below 180 knots. Thirteen minutes later, they landed safely at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Four other American Airlines pilots have received the Daedalian Lieutenant General Harold L. George Civilian Airmanship Award since its inception in 1956: Captain Daniel L. Boone, 1959; Captain Harold L. Hardy, 1975; Captain Steven E. Fulmer, 1997; and Captain Hans Mantel, 2001.

FMI: www.daedalians.org