Fairchild SA 227 N619AV

Summary

On 22 September 1990 at about 18:46 local time, a Fairchild SA 227 registered N619AV, operated by AMR Eagle, Inc, was involved in an incident near Morrisville, North Carolina, United States. 7 people were on board and nobody was injured. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 September 1990 at 18:46

Classification

Incident

Location

Morrisville, North Carolina, United States

Coordinates

35.8308, -78.8307

Aircraft

Fairchild SA 227

Registration

N619AV

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

AMR Eagle, Inc

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Raleigh → Richmond

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL90IA177

Nobody was injured.

THE FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE RUDDER TRIM CONTROL ROD END.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING CRUISE FLIGHT AT 3000 FEET ALTITUDE, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF RUDDER CONTROL FOR ABOUT 20 SECONDS. AFTERWARD HE COULD FEEL CONTINUOUS MOTION IN THE RUDDER THROUGH THE PEDALS, THEREFORE THE PILOT REDUCED HIS AIRSPEED FROM 180 KNOTS TO AN AIRSPEED WHICH ALLOWED FOR LESS RUDDER VIBRATION. AN EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED AND THE FLIGHT LANDED SAFELY. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATIONS DISCLOSED THAT THE RUDDER TRIM TAB CONTROL ROD END FAILED IN FATIGUE. ACCORDING TO FAA RECORDS, OTHER CONTROL FAILURES WERE REPORTED WHICH PROMPTED THE ISSUANCE OF AN EMERGENCY AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE TO PREVENT THE POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.