Service difficulty report · Autopilot Sys · Bombdr DHC8402

Difficulty date
April 27, 2014
Submitted
May 1, 2014
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N439QX
Make and model
Bombdr DHC8402
Aircraft serial
4246
Aircraft time
11,297 hours, 12,106 cycles
Part
Autopilot Sys
Condition
Malfunctioned
Stage of operation
AP
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
F
Precautionary procedure
O

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

What was found

THE ACFT FAILED TO FOLLOW AN FMS RIGHT TURN TO DOWNWIND AT SEA. ONE SECOND LATER THE AUTOPILOT DISCONNECT WARNING SOUNDED WITH ASSOCIATED LIGHTS. A/P DISCONNECT BUTTON WAS PUSHED TO SILENCE THE WARNING WHILE AN ATTEMPT TO FLY THE ACFT BACK ON COARSE BY HAND WAS NEGOTIATED BY THE CONTROLS BEING LOCKED. NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS AT PUSHING THE A/P DIS BUTTON ON THE YOKE DID NOT RELEASE THE CONTROLS. ONE SECOND LATER THE ACFT WAS IN A 5 DEGREE LEFT BANK AND STILL DECENDING WITH THE CONTROLS LOCKED. APPROXIMATLY 5 SECONDS LATER THE CONTROLS ABRUPTLY RELEASED WITH A RIGHT TURN AND FLEW NORMALLY TO TOUCHDOWN. NO CAUTION OR WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE ANNOUNCIATOR PANEL OTHER THAN ASSOCIATED WITH A/P DISCONNECT, AND THE A/P WAS NEVER RE-ENGAGED. R & R ROLL ACTUATOR CAPSTAN & ROLL ACTUATOR, PERFORMED GVI OF AILERON CABLES. COMPLETED FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT CHECK, ENSURED FULL TRAVEL & VERIFIED PROPER DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT, NO DEFECTS NOTED. OPS CHECK FLIGHT GOOD. RETURNED TO SERVICE.