Fokker F28 MK 0100 N890US

Summary

On 1 May 1994 at about 17:09 local time, a Fokker F28 MK 0100 registered N890US, operated by Usair, Inc., was involved in an incident near Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. 94 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was slightly damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 May 1994 at 17:09

Classification

Incident

Location

Charlotte, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Douglas International (CLT)

Coordinates

35.2300, -80.9104

Aircraft

Fokker F28 MK 0100

Registration

N890US

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Usair, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Detroit → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Minor

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL94IA088

Nobody was injured.

THE IMPROPER RIGGING OF THE NOSE WHEEL STEERING SYSTEM BY COMPANY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE FLIGHTCREW REPORTED THAT WHILE EXTENDING THE LANDING GEAR, THE NOSE GEAR DID NOT INDICATE DOWN AND LOCKED. AFTER FURTHER ATTEMPTS TO LOWER THE NOSE GEAR WERE UNSUCCESSFUL, THE AIRCRAFT WAS LANDED WITH THE NOSE GEAR NOT DOWN AND LOCKED. INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE NOSEWHEEL STEERING SYSTEM WAS INCORRECTLY RIGGED; THE NOSE GEAR WOULD NOT PROPERLY CENTER ITSELF, AND THE NOSEWHEEL STEERING CABLE TENSIONS WERE BELOW REQUIRED LIMITS. THIS RESULTED IN A SITUATION WHERE THE NOSE GEAR WOULD IMPINGE ON THE SIDE WALL OF THE GEAR WELL, PREVENTING EXTENSION. THE AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURER REPORTED THAT IT REQUIRED A COMBINATION OF NOSE GEAR MISRIGGING, WITH REDUCED CABLE TENSIONS, TO DUPLICATE THIS SCENARIO. ABOUT TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, THE NOSEWHEEL STEERING CONTROL VALVE WAS REPLACED, WHICH WOULD HAVE REQUIRED A CHECK OF THE NOSE GEAR RIGGING.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.