# NTSB FTW95IA124: Fairchild SA227-AC, N369AE, Austin, TX, February 27, 1995 - Type: NTSB incident investigation - Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report - Date: February 27, 1995, 08:05 local (14:05 UTC) - Place: Austin, TX - Coordinates: 30.300762, -97.690887 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3008&lon=-97.6909&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 13 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 19, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - ADs cited in the narratives: [AD 87-02-02](https://openairdocs.org/ad/87-02-02) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 19265 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95IA124 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19265/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95IA124 ## Probable cause THE FAILURE OF THE MISROUTED RUDDER CONTROL CABLE DUE TO IMPROPER INSTALLATION DURING SCHEDULED REPLACEMENT TO COMPLY WITH AN AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - flare/touchdown - flt control syst,rudder control cable/rod - misrouted (cause) - maintenance,compliance with ad - improper, company maintenance personnel (cause) - flt control syst,rudder control cable/rod - failure,total (cause) ## Analysis WHILE FLARING TO LAND, THE RUDDER CABLE FOR THE LEFT RUDDER SEVERED DUE TO IMPROPER ROUTING DURING THE SCHEDULED REPLACEMENT OF THE CONTROL CABLES IN COMPLIANCE WITH AN AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE. THE FLIGHT CREW REPORTED HEARING A POPPING SOUND FOLLOWED BY THE RUDDER PEDAL DEFLECTING TO THE STOP. CONTROL WAS MAINTAINED AND A NORMAL LANDING COMPLETED. ## Factual narrative On February 27, 1995, at 0805 central standard time, a Fairchild SA227-AC, N369AE, experienced a flight control malfunction while landing at the Robert Mueller Airport, near Austin, Texas. The airplane sustained no damage and was operated by Conquest Airlines of Austin, Texas, under an IFR flight plan as Conquest Flight 220. The airline transport rated pilot, the first officer, and their 11 passengers were uninjured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 CFR Part 135 flight. According to the operator, the crew reported that during the landing flare on runway 13R, they heard a popping sound followed by the rudder pedal deflecting to the stop while they cross- controlled to maintain runway alignment. Control was maintained and a normal landing completed. The airplane taxied to the gate without further incident. Post flight inspection of the airplane revealed that the rudder cable (part number 27-70001-071) for the left rudder had severed due to improper routing during the scheduled replacement of the control cables (A.D. 87-02-02). Company quality control personnel determined that the cable was routed outside the upper aft cable guide. The chaffing against the structure of the aircraft resulted in failure of the cable assembly. The cable had accumulated 435.9 hours since installation. ## Aircraft - Registration: N369AE (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: FAIRCHILD SA227-AC - Category: Airplane - Serial number: AC-697 - Airframe hours: 10427 - Engines: GARRETT TPE 331-11U 1000 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Conquest Airlines - Registered owner: Sterling Credit Corp. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: AAIP, February 8, 1995, 90 hours before - Departed: TYL, TYLER, TX - Destination: AUS - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: AUS, Robert Mueller Municipal, runway 13R, 7,269 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 9,500 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 8,000 as pilot in command, 300 in the last 90 days, 200 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 2.5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,200 ft overcast - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: AUS, 1 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 19950227035419I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950227035419I), Feb 27, 1995: Swrngn SA227AC, Austin, TX. Popping sound on landing flare. Rudder deflected. Cross control kept alignment. Improper routing broke rudder cable 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.