# NTSB NYC01IA199: Raytheon 400A, N3337J, Teterboro, NJ, July 19, 2001 - Type: NTSB incident investigation - Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report - Date: July 19, 2001, 14:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Teterboro, NJ - Coordinates: 40.849315, -74.060279 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8493&lon=-74.0603&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Raytheon, FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 52913 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC01IA199 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52913/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC01IA199 ## Probable cause The right aft rudder cable being installed over a cable guide by maintenance personnel. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, approach - maintenance,installation - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause) ## Analysis The airplane was approximately 10 miles west of the airport at 4,000 feet msl, and indicating 220 knots of airspeed, when the captain felt an abnormal yaw input. At first, he thought the yaw dampener had failed. He selected the dampener to "OFF," but did not regain normal rudder control. The captained continued the approach, and landed uneventfully. An inspection by maintenance personnel revealed that the right aft rudder cable had separated. The cable was change 50.6 hours before the incident. The incident rudder cable met its original design specifications, and had separated in overload created by a bend or kink in the cable. Examination of the cable guide revealed a shiny wear pattern with no scrapes or gouges. The break in the rudder cable was within 1 inch of the aft cable guide for the right aft rudder pulley. Two separate incidents involving flight control cables being improperly installed over a cable guide were examined. In both cases, the cables separated, but the cable guides remained intact. The wear patterns on the cable guides for the previous incidents were similar to that of the incident cable guide. ## Factual narrative On July 19, 2001, about 1445 eastern daylight time, a Raytheon 400A, N3337J, experienced a flight control malfunction while on approach to the Teterboro Airport (TEB), Teterboro, New Jersey. The airplane landed without incident, and neither of the certificated airline transport pilots were injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the positioning flight that originated at Dillant Hopkins Airport (EEN), Keene, New Hampshire. An instrument flight rules flight plan was filed and activated for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the captain, the airplane was approximately 10 miles west of Teterboro at 4,000 feet msl, and indicating 220 knots of airspeed, when there was an abnormal yaw input. At first, he thought the yaw dampener had failed. He selected the dampener to "OFF," but did not regain normal rudder control. The captained continued the approach, and landed uneventfully. Inspection by maintenance personnel revealed that the right rudder cable had separated. According to maintenance records, the airplane had been towed with the nosewheel steering engaged, resulting in damage to the rudder portion of the flight control system. On June 14, 2001, the damage was repaired, which included replacing the forward and aft right rudder cables. Since the cables were replaced, the airplane flew 50.6 hours before the right aft cable separated. According to manufacturer records, the rudder cable came from a 1,000-foot reel that was shipped from the cable manufacturer to the airframe manufacturer on November 16, 2000. Prior to being shipped, a sample of the reel was taken and tested. According to the test results, required breaking strength was 2,500 pounds, and the actual breaking strength of the sample was 3,190 pounds. The rudder cable was sent to the Safety Board's Material Laboratory for examination. According to the metallurgist that conducted the examination, the cable met its original design specifications. He added that the fracture surfaces on the cable were consistent with overload created by a bend or kink in the cable. Examination of the cable guide revealed a shiny wear pattern with no scrapes or gouges. According to a representative for the airplane manufacturer, the break in the aft right rudder cable was 14 inches from the swage, which placed it within 1 inch of the aft cable guide for the right aft rudder pulley. Two separate cases involving flight control cables being installed over a cable guide were examined. In both cases, the cables separated, but the cable guides remained intact. The first incident involved a Beech 1900. In that incident, an elevator trim cable was installed over a cable guide. Examination of a photograph taken of the cable guide revealed a shiny wear pattern with no deep scrapes or gouges. The second incident involved a rudder cable for a Beech A36, which also was installed over a cable guide. Examination of a photograph taken of that cable guide also revealed a shiny wear pattern with no deep scrapes or gouges. ## Aircraft - Registration: N3337J (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Raytheon 400A - Category: Airplane - Serial number: RK-159 - Airframe hours: 2597 - Engines: P&W J15D-5 2900 lbs thrust turbo fan; P&W J15D-5 2900 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: No damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Registered owner: Woodbridge Logistics, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 14, 2001, 197 hours before - Departed: EEN, Keene, NH - Destination: TEB, Teterboro, NJ - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: TEB, Teterboro, runway 1, 7,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 16, 2001; seat: right; flight hours: 18,120 total, 2,010 in this make and model, 10,210 as pilot in command, 145 in the last 90 days, 42 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 57; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review March 31, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 10,250 total, 210 in this make and model, 7,210 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: TEB, 10 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 20010719039159I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010719039159I), Jul 19, 2001: Beech 400A, Teterboro, NJ. (-23) On 7/19/01 the aircraft experienced a flight control malfunction on approach to Teterboro. Aircraft landed without incident. Inspection by maintenance… 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.