- Date
- August 17, 1993, 09:45 local (14:45 UTC)
- Place
- San Antonio, TX
- Injuries
- 8 uninjured
- Damage
- No damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N392PTCanadair CL-600-2B16
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 17, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930817033479I
- Case key
- 18682
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the incident.
On this page
Probable cause
The fracture of the rudder quadrant due to stress corrosion. A factor was the manufacturer's improper selection of material.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The crew experienced an uncommanded yaw to the right while in cruise flight at FL410 with the auto pilot engaged. A normal landing was made without incident at the intended destination. Examination of the airplane's rudder control revealed that the shaft portion of the rudder quadrant was fractured. Metallurgical evaluation of the fractured surface revealed that the separation of the shaft portion was the result of stress corrosion cracking that initiated from opposite sides of the shaft and progressed inward until about 60% of the shaft cross section cracked due to poor choice of material, improper radius, and excessive torque on the shaft nut.
Factual narrative
On August 17, 1993, at 0945 central daylight time, a Canadair CL-600-2B16, N392PT, experienced an uncommanded yaw while in cruise flight at FL410, near San Antonio, Texas. There were no injuries to the two airline transport rated pilots and their six passengers. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the executive flight.
According to the captain, the airplane was in cruise flight at the assigned altitude of FL410 in VMC conditions, with the auto pilot engaged, when the crew noticed an uncommanded yaw to the right without any warning or indication in the cockpit. A normal descent was initiated as the airspeed was reduced to 250 knots. After switching to a secondary flight guidance computer and disconnecting the yaw damper and the auto pilot, the pilots discovered that rudder deflections to the right were not possible.
They continued to the San Antonio International Airport and landed without incident. Examination of the airplane's rudder control system by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector and a manufacturer's representative revealed that the shaft portion of the rudder quadrant was fractured.
Metallurgical evaluation of the fracture surface and associated hardware revealed that the separation of the shaft portion was the result of stress corrosion cracking. The cracking initiated from the opposite sides of the shaft and progressed inward until about 60% of the shaft cross section was cracked. The Metallurgist's Factual Report is an enclosure.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N392PT
- Reported as
- Canadair CL-600-2B16 (CL-600-2B1)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 5110
- Airframe hours
- 434
- Engine
- GE CF34-3A, 9,250 lbs thrust, turbo fan
- Damage
- No damage
- Flight
- Executive/Corporate · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Pet Incorporated
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Last inspection
- Continuous airworthiness · May 9, 1993 · 120 hours before
- Departed
- ALN · Alton, MO
- Flight plan
- IFR
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 47
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 7,000 total · 1,800 in this make and model · 75 in the last 90 days · 30 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.