McDonnell Douglas MD82 N951U

Summary

On 11 April 1998 at about 11:45 local time, a McDonnell Douglas MD82 registered N951U, operated by Trans World Airlines, was involved in an incident near Washington, District of Columbia, United States. 84 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

11 April 1998 at 11:45

Classification

Incident

Location

Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Coordinates

38.9304, -77.0302

Aircraft

McDonnell Douglas MD82

Registration

N951U

Category

Airplane

Operator

Trans World Airlines

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Saint Louis

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Not Reported

NTSB number

CHI98IA167

Nobody was injured.

The failure of the Dual Axis Accelerometer.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The Douglas MD82 experienced a flight control malfunction after takeoff and diverted to Dulles International Airport. The crew reported that they lost the autopilot, there were in-flight kicks on the rudder and the rudder tab was moving uncommanded on the ground. The Yaw Damper Actuator, Digital Flight Guidance Computer, and Dual Axis Accelerometer were removed for further testing. The Yaw Damper Actuator and the Digital Flight Guidance Computer passed testing. The Dual Axis Accelerometer was bench tested using test manual #22-19-01, Rev 1 at the avionics test center. The unit failed an original test and failed a second test after a metal sliver imbedded in the pins was removed.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.