# Incident 20000221003129I: Emb EMB120ER, Fresno, CA, February 21, 2000

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 21, 2000, 09:58 local time
- Place: Fresno, CA
- Airport: Fresno Yosemite International Airport
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: Air carrier (Part 121)
- Operator: SWIA
- Location: 36.5750° N, 119.0917° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5750&lon=-119.0917&mi=10
- Aircraft: N566SW, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N566SW) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Embraer EMB-120ER (registry code 3260203, https://openairdocs.org/model/embraer-emb-120er) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PW118 (registry code 52116, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pw118) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: EMB EMB120ER
- People aboard: 20
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 4,059 total, 1,659 in this make and model, 90 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX00IA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00IA106) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000221003129I

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON FEBRUARY 21, 2000, AT APPROXIMATLEY 0958 HOURS PDT, A SKY WEST AIRLINES AIRCRAFT, FLIGHT NUMBER 5353, AN EMBRAER 120, N566SW ON A DOMESTIC REVENUE FLIGHT FROM LOS ANGELES CA, EXPERIENCED AN ELEVATOR TRIM PROBLEM AT FLIGHT CRUISE LEVEL 22.0 PRIOR TO ARRIVING AT THE FRESNO YOSEMITE INT'L AIRPORT (FAT) IN FRESNO, CA. THE CREW DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND LANDED THE AIRCRAFT UNEVENFULLY WITHOUT DAMAGE.  FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE CREW ENCOUNTERED A FROZEN CONDITION OF THE ELEVATOR ACTUATOR TRIM SYTEM WHILE USING THE AUTOPILOT TO TRIM THE AIRCRAFT DURING CRUISE AND DESCENT SEGMENTS OF FLIGHT.  THIS CONDITION CORRECTED ITSELF AS THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED INTO A LOWER ALTITUDE.  MAINTENANCE TECHNICIANS REPLACED BOTH TRIM ACTUATORS WITH THE NEW TYPE ACTUATORS AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS RELEASED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.  THIS SUTUATION HAS WARRENTED FURTHER INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MATTER WITH INVOLVEMENT FROM THE MAUFACTURER, A REPAIR STATION, THE OPERATOR AND NTSB.  THIS OCCURRENCE REPORT HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN INCIDENT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX00IA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00IA106), Feb 21, 2000: Embraer 120 (N566SW), Fresno, CA, incident, no damage. Probable cause: Moisture contamination of the elevator trim actuator units resulting in their failure to operate at below freezing temperatures

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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