# NTSB NYC93IA059: Boeing 737-130, N14212, Newark, NJ, March 15, 1993

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: March 15, 1993, 09:20 local (14:20 UTC)
- Place: Newark, NJ
- Location: 40.7242° N, 74.1726° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Newark, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7242&lon=-74.1726&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 61 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 10, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37242
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC93IA059
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37242/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC93IA059

## Probable cause

INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE/INSPECTION BY COMPANY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL, THE MANUFACTURER'S INADEQUATE INSPECTION AND/OR REPLACEMENT PROCEDURES FOR THE AILERON CABLES, AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE 'DOWN' AILERON CONTROL CABLE DUE TO WEAR.

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, takeoff - initial climb
  - flt control syst,aileron control cable/rod - worn (cause)
  - flt control syst,aileron control cable/rod - failure,total (cause)
  - maintenance,inspection - inadequate, company maintenance personnel (cause)
  - procedure inadequate, manufacturer (cause)

## Analysis

IMMEDIATELY AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE AIRPLANE ROLLED LEFT, BUT THE PILOT CONTROLLED THE ROLL WITH RIGHT AILERON.  THE LEFT AILERON WAS OBSERVED IN A FULL UP POSITION.  THE CAPTAIN ELECTED TO RETURN & LAND AT THE AIRPORT. WITH SNOW ON THE RUN- WAY, HE DECIDED TO USE 15 DEGREE WING FLAPS UNTIL 300', THEN EXTEND THE FLAPS TO 30 DEGREES.  HE SAID HE NEEDED FULL RIGHT AILERON TO MAINTAIN CONTROL ONCE THE FLAPS WERE EXTENDED TO 30 DEGREES.  AN EXAM REVEALED THE LEFT 'DOWN' AILERON CABLE (FOR DOWN MOVEMENT) HAD BROKEN.  ALSO, THE LEFT 'UP' AILERON CABLE & BOTH RIGHT AILERON CABLES WERE WORN & WERE REPLACED. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION REVEALED NUMEROUS WORN STRANDS IN THE CABLES. A 'C' CHECK/INSPECTION OF THE AILERON CABLES HAD BEEN ACCOMPLISHED ON 12/20/92 (580 FLIGHT HOURS BEFORE INCIDENT) VIA PROCEDURES. PROCEDURES LACKED DETAILS & NO SERVICE LIFE WAS ESTABLISHED FOR AILERON CONTROL CABLES. THE 1968 MODEL AIRPLANE HAD ABOUT 59,000 FLIGHT HOURS; NO RECORD OF PREVIOUS CABLE REPLACEMENT WAS FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N14212](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N14212-1998-02-18), registration cancelled 1998-02-18, S/N 19029 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 737-130
- Registry model: [Boeing 737-130](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-130) (registry code 1384435) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 19029
- Airframe hours: 58997
- Engines: P&W JT8D 14500 horsepower turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Continental Airlines
- Registered owner: Continental Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, December 20, 1992, 580 hours before
- Departed: EWR
- Destination: GSO, GREENSBORO, NC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: EWR, Newark Intl, runway 22R, 9,300 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 29,600 total, 14,000 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 19 °F

## 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 19930315011899I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930315011899I), Mar 15, 1993: Boeing 737130, Newark, NJ. Partial loss of aileron control on climb. Returned. Landed safely. Found broken left aileron control 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.

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