SDR 0204156719

Service difficulty report · Pcu · Boeing 747251F

Difficulty date
December 20, 2002
Submitted
December 24, 2002
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N629US
Make and model
Boeing 747251F
Aircraft serial
22388
Aircraft time
80,049 hours, 18,699 cycles
Engine
Pwa JT9D*
Part
Pcu
Condition
Malfunctioned
Location
Rudder
Stage of operation
CL
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
F
Precautionary procedure
A

As reported to the FAA. Reports are unverified, and codes are left as the FAA publishes them.

What was found

APPROACHING TOP OF CLIMB AT FL350, THE LOWER RUDDER WAS POSITIONED 5 DEGREES LEFT OF CENTER WITH THE UPPER RUDDER ONE DEGREE RIGHT OF CENTER. AFTER LEVEL OFF THE LOWER RUDDER SUDDENLY MOVED TO 5 DEGREES RIGHT OF CENTER. THE AUTOPILOT WAS THEN DISCONNECTED AND THE CREW USED AILERON INPUT TO MAINTAIN LATERAL AND DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. APPROXIMATELY ONE MINUTE LATER BOTH RUDDERS RETURNED TO A NORMAL ZERO DEGREE DEFLECTION. NO FURTHER RUDDER MALFUNCTIONS WERE EXPERIENCED. THE FLIGHT RETURNED AND LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. MAINTENANCE REPLACED BOTH THE UPPER AND LOWER RUDDER PCU'S BOTH UPPER AND LOWER YAW DAMPER COMPUTERS AND THE NR 2 INU.