# NTSB ATL90IA177: Fairchild SA 227, N619AV, Morrisville, NC, September 22, 1990

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: September 22, 1990, 14:46 local (18:46 UTC)
- Place: Morrisville, NC
- Coordinates: 35.830844, -78.830673 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8308&lon=-78.8307&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 7 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 14, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8162
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL90IA177
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8162/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL90IA177

## Probable cause

THE FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE RUDDER TRIM CONTROL ROD END.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise
  - flight control,rudder tab - failure,total (cause)
  - flight control,rudder tab - fatigue (cause)

## Analysis

DURING CRUISE FLIGHT AT 3000 FEET ALTITUDE, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF RUDDER CONTROL FOR ABOUT 20 SECONDS. AFTERWARD HE COULD FEEL CONTINUOUS MOTION IN THE RUDDER THROUGH THE PEDALS, THEREFORE THE PILOT REDUCED HIS AIRSPEED FROM 180 KNOTS TO AN AIRSPEED WHICH ALLOWED FOR LESS RUDDER VIBRATION. AN EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED AND THE FLIGHT LANDED SAFELY. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATIONS DISCLOSED THAT THE RUDDER TRIM TAB CONTROL ROD END FAILED IN FATIGUE. ACCORDING TO FAA RECORDS, OTHER CONTROL FAILURES WERE REPORTED WHICH PROMPTED THE ISSUANCE OF AN EMERGENCY AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE TO PREVENT THE POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N619AV (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: FAIRCHILD SA 227
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AC 619
- Engines: GARRETT TPE 331-11U 1000 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Amr Eagle, Inc
- Departed: RDU, RALEIGH, NC
- Destination: RIC, RICHMOND, VA
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 3,000 total, 900 in this make and model, 180 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at: RDU, 3 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19900922048989I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900922048989I), Sep 22, 1990: Swrngn SA227AC, Raleigh-Durham, NC, Minor damage. Vibration of rudder pedals inflight. Landed safely. Found rudder trim actuator rod sheared.

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.

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