# NTSB CEN15IA085: Dassault/Sud FAN JET Falcon, N827AA, Shreveport, LA, December 12, 2014

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: December 11, 2014, 21:00 local (Dec 12, 2014, 03:00 UTC)
- Place: Shreveport, LA
- Coordinates: 32.433334, -93.824996 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4333&lon=-93.8250&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-IFR final approach: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 9, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- NTSB case key (mKey): 90522
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15IA085
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90522/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90522
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15IA085

## Probable cause

A short in the trim system’s wires and connector, which resulted in the elevator trim being in a full nose-down position.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Flight control system: elevator control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022730): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Dassault/Sud FAN JET FALCON, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022730/cases.md?model=2720302), [All aircraft, 74 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022730/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-IFR final approach: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333) (defining event); cases with it: [Dassault/Sud FAN JET FALCON, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md?model=2720302), [All aircraft, 410 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the operator, during the visual approach, the copilot needed to use "more aft pressure than normal" while descending the airplane from 2,000 to 20 ft above ground level (agl). When the airplane was below 20 ft agl and in the landing flare, the yoke hit the aft stop. The flight crew subsequently landed the airplane without incident. After landing, the flight crew conducted a postflight examination, which revealed that the elevator trim was in the full nose-down position and that it could not be returned to the takeoff or neutral position. The flight crew pulled the circuit breaker and used the emergency trim to move the elevator trim to the takeoff position. After the trim circuit breaker was reengaged, the elevator trim moved back to the full nose-down position. Examination of the trim system found that a wire had shorted between two terminal junctions, which resulted in power at one of the terminal junctions regardless of the position of the trim switch on the captain's control. Further examination also found that the connector at another terminal junction had shorted. The wires and connectors were removed and replaced, and the trim anomaly was resolved.

## Factual narrative

On December 11, 2014, about 2100 central standard time, a Dassault Fan Jet Falcon, N827AA, experienced a flight control malfunction while on approach to Shreveport Regional Airport (KSHV), Shreveport, Louisiana. The pilot and co pilot were not injured. The airplane was not damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by USA Jet Airlines under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 as a non-scheduled international flight. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated on an instrument flight rules flight plan. The flight originated from Hamilton (CYHM) Ontario, Canada, about 1925 eastern standard time. According to the operator, the co pilot was flying a visual approach to runway 14. After the autopilot disengaged, the copilot flew the airplane from 2,000 feet above ground level (agl) to 20 feet agl using "more aft pressure than normal." The copilot stated that below 20 feet agl and into the landing flare, the yoke hit the aft stop. The airplane landed without incident. Following the landing, a post flight examination revealed that the elevator trim was in the full nose down position and could not be returned to the takeoff or neutral position. The flight crew used the emergency trim to move the trim to the takeoff position. After the trim circuit breaker was reengaged, the elevator trim moved back to the full nose down position. Examination of the trim system found wire 1CF21E20 shorted between terminal junction 3/18 and terminal junction 3/21. This short resulted in power at terminal junction 3/21 regardless of the position of the trim switch on the captains control. Further examination also found the connector at terminal junction 106 shorted. The wires and connectors were removed and replaced and the trim anomaly was resolved.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N827AA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N827AA-2026-04-08), registration cancelled 2026-04-08, S/N 298, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DASSAULT/SUD FAN JET FALCON
- Registry model: [Dassault/Sud FAN JET FALCON](https://openairdocs.org/model/dassault-sud-fan-jet-falcon) (registry code 2720302) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [GE CF700 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-cf700-series) (registry code 30010, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 298
- Year built: 1974
- Airframe hours: 20851.5
- Engines: General Electric CF700-2D 4200 lbs thrust turbo fan; General Electric CF700-2D 4200 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: USA Jet Airlines Inc
- Registered owner: USA Jet Airlines Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, December 13, 2014
- Departed: CYHM, Hamilton
- Destination: KSHV, Shreveport, LA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: KSHV, Shreveport Regional Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 14, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 3,083 total, 674 in this make and model, 1,988 as pilot in command, 111 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days
- Co-pilot; age 42; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 3, 2014; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 709 total, 165 in this make and model, 312 as pilot in command, 140 in the last 90 days, 52 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: 120° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 600 ft broken
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.27 inHg
- Observed at: KDTN, 1 nm away

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 4, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90522. 974 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 974 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422792&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF

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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