Flight Safety Foundation
Professionalism Award in Flight Safety

is presented to

Capt. James K. Almlie
FedEx Express

For extraordinary skill, coordination and resourcefulness in preventing loss of life and loss of a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 after a serious malfunction of its flight controls.

On June 16, 2002, the crew was conducting an approach to Subic Bay International Airport, Philippines. During their final flap setting at about 1,500 feet, the aircraft began a rapid roll to the left and pitched nose down. Using both hands and his left knee to maintain full right aileron, Capt. Almlie struggled to regain control. First Officer Abbott assisted in conducting a go-around, and they maneuvered to avoid nearby houses and mountains. They could not retract the inboard flaps, the landing gear or several spoilers deployed on the right wing. Control forces became so great at one point that Capt. Almlie transferred the flight controls to Abbott. He later improvised a method of manipulating the flight controls while First Officer Abbott operated the throttles to conduct the approach and land the aircraft at Manila.

Postflight inspection revealed that the left-hand inboard flap actuator had sheared from its mounting because of a failure of the mounting-assembly attach bolts. The actuator had impinged on other flight-control components and had severed lines in one hydraulic system.

Flight Safety Foundation is pleased to recognize Capt. James K. Almlie and First Officer Mark J. Abbott for responding to this emergency in a professional manner under difficult circumstances.

FSF 56th annual International Air Safety Seminar
Washington, D.C., U.S.A.
November 10, 2003

Stuart Matthews
President and CEO
Flight Safety Foundation

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