De Havilland DHC-8-102 N827PH

Summary

On 28 August 2001 at about 23:00 local time, a De Havilland DHC-8-102 registered N827PH, operated by Horizon Air Inc, was involved in an incident near Portland, Oregon, United States. 3 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

28 August 2001 at 23:00

Classification

Incident

Location

Portland, Oregon, United States

Nearest airport

Portland International Airport (KPDX)

Coordinates

45.5803, -122.9104

Aircraft

De Havilland DHC-8-102

Registration

N827PH

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Horizon Air Inc

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Klamath Falls → Portland

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA01IA161

Nobody was injured.

Improper tension of the right control yoke chain; a worn right aileron spring tab hinge bearing; improper tension of the left aileron spring tab aft spring and worn contact stud; improper tension of the right aileron spring tab and a worn contact stud; a worn left aileron hinge bearing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The operator reported that shortly after departure the first officer noted stiffness in the flight controls when attempting to roll the airplane to the left. After assessing the situation, the captain elected to continue the climb. Shortly after level off, the crew noted that the stiffness increased proportionally with airspeed. This was also noted during the descent phase of the flight, specifically, the first officer stated the resistance increased for left roll inputs as the aircraft accelerated. The captain reported that they attempted to relieve the pressure with aileron trim, however, when the trim indicator reached the first index on the indicator, the control wheel "snapped" approximately 25 degrees and the airplane banked to the right. The crew reported that as the airplane slowed, while on approach, the roll control stiffness decreased. After landing, the crew accomplished a full control check and noted no abnormal indications with the ailerons or spoilers. Post flight inspection disclosed a number of discrepancies that are believed to have contributed to the stiff flight controls. The items are as follows: the right control yoke chain tension was high; the right aileron spring tab hinge bearing did not rotate freely; the left aileron spring tab aft spring tension was low and the contact stud was worn; the right aileron spring tab tension was low and the contact stud was worn; the left aileron hinge bearing did not rotate freely.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.