# NTSB MKC82IA059: Rockwell NA-265-65, N2N, St. Louis, MO, April 20, 1982

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: April 20, 1982, 17:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: St. Louis, MO
- Location: 38.6273° N, 90.1979° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of St. Louis, MO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6273&lon=-90.1979&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 20, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 72700
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC82IA059
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72700/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC82IA059

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - electrical system,electric switch - loose (cause)
  - flt control syst,stabilator trim - disconnected (cause)

## Analysis

WHILE ENROUTE FROM GRAND ISLAND, NE TO NASHVILLE, TN, THE PILOT NOTICED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WOULD NOT TRIM NOSE DOWN, BUT THAT IT WOULD TRIM NOSE UP NORMALLY. THE PILOT REDUCED SPEED AND ALTITUDE AND DIVERTED TO ST. LOUIS, MO IN ORDER TO HAVE THE PROBLEM REPAIRED. ON SHORT FINAL TO RUNWAY 30R, THE AIRCRAFT PITCHED DOWN VIOLENTLY. THE PILOT STATED THAT BOTH PILOTS WERE REQUIRED ON THE ELEVATOR TO EFFECT RECOVERY FROM THE PITCHOVER. ONCE RECOVERED, THE APPROACH WAS CONTINUED TO A NORMAL LANDING. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT ONE OF 4 ELECTRICAL TRAVEL LIMIT SWITCHES HAD A LOOSE CONNECTION WHICH WOULD ALLOW THE ACTUATOR TO DRIVE TO THE MECHANICAL STOP. AFTER NUMEROUS CYCLES, THE ACTUATOR SLEEVE/DUST COVER WOULD CRACK ALLOWING THE ROD ENDS TO DISCENGAGE FROM THE ACTUATOR. IT WAS ALSO DETERMINED THAT WITH THE MECHANICAL FLEXIBLE SHAFT INTERCONNECT BETWEEN THE TWO ACTUATORS A FAILURE OF ONE ELECTRICAL LIMIT SWITCH WOULD PERMIT BOTH ACTUATORS TO BE DRIVEN TO THEIR MECHANICAL LIMITS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N2N (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: ROCKWELL NA-265-65
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 465 63
- Airframe hours: 507
- Engines: AIRESEARCH TFE731-3R-1D 3700 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91 subpart F
- Operator: Natural Gas Pipeline Co. Of Am
- Registered owner: Natural Gas Pipeline Co. Of Am
- Departed: GRAND ISLAND, NE
- Destination: NASHVILLE, TN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: STL, Lambert-St. Louis Intl

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 5,871 total, 950 in this make and model, 5,040 as pilot in command, 83 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 131 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19820420027859I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820420027859I), Apr 20, 1982: Rkwell NA26565, St Louis, MO. Nose down trim failed. On approach aircraft pitched down hard. Horizontal trim actuators, PN11450-1, failed.

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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