# NTSB SEA85IA080: Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-14, N85AS, Reno, NV, March 27, 1985

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: March 26, 1985, 16:45 local (Mar 27, 1985, 00:45 UTC)
- Place: Reno, NV
- Coordinates: 39.48003, -119.740234 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4800&lon=-119.7402&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 41 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40071
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA85IA080
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40071/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA85IA080

## Analysis

AFTER A GROUND TIME OF 36 MINUTES DURING RAIN/WET SNOW THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED RENO. DURING THE CLIMB IN BELOW FREEZING CONDITIONS THE CREW EXPERIENCED ELEVATOR PITCH CONTROL DIFFICULTIES WHICH PERSISTED UNTIL THE DESCENT INTO SEATTLE. EXAMINATION OF THE ELEVATORS REVEALED WATER WITHIN THE INBOARD SECTION OF BOTH ASSEMBLIES AND MISSING SEALANT MATERIAL ON THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE LEFT ELEVATOR PANEL.

## Sequence of events

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

- Altitude deviation,uncontrolled, climb - to cruise
  - flight control,elevator - frozen (cause)
  - flt control syst,elevator control - movement restricted (cause)

## Aircraft

- Registration: N85AS (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-9-14
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 45711
- Airframe hours: 34276
- Engines: P&W JT8D-7B 14000 lbs thrust turbo jet
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: All Star Airlines,Inc., doing business as Manchester Airport
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, March 16, 1985, 18 hours before
- Departed: RNO, RENO, NV
- Destination: SEA, SEATTLE, WA
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; flight engineer, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 14,000 total, 2,100 in this make and model, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 800 ft overcast
- Temperature: 34 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: RNO

## 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 19850326017329I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850326017329I), Mar 26, 1985: Doug DC914, Sutcliffe, NV. Experienced pitch control problem in flight, found water in left elevator damper unit.

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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