# NTSB CHI02IA275: Saab-Scania 340A, N110XJ, Detroit, MI, September 4, 2002 - Type: NTSB incident investigation - Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report - Date: September 4, 2002, 12:34 local (16:34 UTC) - Place: Detroit, MI - Coordinates: 42.211666, -83.348335 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2117&lon=-83.3483&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 25 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - Detroit FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 55803 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02IA275 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55803/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02IA275 ## Probable cause A malfunctioning yaw damper. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, climb - to cruise - flt control syst,yaw damper - malfunction (cause) ## Analysis While climbing to cruise altitude the first officer (FO) reported that turns to the left were "difficult". The flightcrew continued the climb and noticed the rudder trim had trimmed 5 units to the right. Approximately 2,000 feet prior to leveloff the pitch trim annunciator light illuminated and remained illuminated after the flightcrew completed the quick reference checklist. The flightcrew monitored the trim position indicator and manually operated the trim for the remainder of the flight. Company maintenance personnel determined a malfunctioning yaw damper was the source of the control anomaly. ## Factual narrative On September 4, 2002, at 1234 eastern daylight time, a Saab 340A, N110XJ, operated by Mesaba Aviation, Minneapolis, Minnesota, landed without incident at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), Detroit, Michigan, after reporting a control system anomaly while en route from Cleveland, Ohio. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the landing. The scheduled passenger flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 121 on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan. The flightcrew and passengers reported no injuries. The flight originated from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE), Cleveland, Ohio. According to a written statement provided by Mesaba Aviation, during climbout from CLE the first officer (FO) reported that turns to the left were "difficult". The flightcrew continued the climb and noticed the rudder trim had trimmed 5 units to the right. Approximately 2,000 feet prior to leveloff the pitch trim annunciator light illuminated and remained illuminated after the flightcrew completed the quick reference checklist. The flightcrew monitored the trim position indicator and manually operated the trim for the remainder of the flight. Company maintenance personnel determined a malfunctioning yaw damper was the source of the control anomaly. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N110XJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N110XJ-2010-07-19), registration cancelled 2010-07-19, S/N 340A-110, built 1988 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Saab-Scania AB (Saab) 340A - Registry model: [Saab-Fairchild 340A](https://openairdocs.org/model/saab-fairchild-340a) (registry code 7850100) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [GE CT7-SER series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-ct7-ser-series) (registry code 30031, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: M369MA - Airframe hours: 31474 - Engines: General Electric CT7-5A2 1600 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Registered owner: Mesaba Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, September 30, 2001, 1,580 hours before - Departed: CLE, Cleavland, OH - Destination: DET, Detroit, MI - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review June 4, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 4,100 total, 800 in this make and model, 1,850 as pilot in command, 182 in the last 90 days, 70 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 33; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 19, 2002; seat: right; flight hours: 1,400 total, 430 in this make and model, 815 as pilot in command, 172 in the last 90 days, 79 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg ## Other investigations on N110XJ (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 NYC02LA146](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA146), Jul 21, 2002: Saab-Scania 340A (N110XJ), Charleston, WV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The vehicle driver's failure to maintain clearance of the airplane. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.