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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

May 17, 1995 · Fairchild SA227-AC · N2727B

Spokane, WA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Incident
Date
May 17, 1995
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (17 uninjured)
Location
Spokane, WA
Aircraft
Fairchild SA227-AC
Tail Number
N2727B
Injuries
None
NTSB Number
SEA95IA102

WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT, THE FLIGHT CREW REPORTED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERMITTENT SONALERT FOR THE TRIM IN MOTION, HOWEVER, NEITHER THE TRIM INDICATOR NOR THE AIRCRAFT TRIM WERE AFFECTED AT THIS TIME. SOME MINUTES LATER, THE ELEVATOR TRIM BEGAN TO MOVE WITHOUT CREW INPUT. BOTH THE CAPTAIN AND THE CO-PILOT TRIED TO DEACTIVATE THE TRIM FROM THEIR CONTROL YOKE SWITCHES; HOWEVER, THE TRIM WOULD NOT DEACTIVATE UNTIL THE LEFT SIDE ESSENTIAL BUS WAS SELECTED OFF. THE AIRPLANE THEN LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. INSPECTION OF THE SYSTEM REVEALED THAT THE CAPTAIN'S SIDE TRIM POWER WIRE WAS SHORTED DIRECTLY TO THE LEFT SIDE ESSENTIAL BUS, AND THE JUMPER WIRE AT THE CAPTAIN'S YOKE TRIM (GROUND SIDE) SWITCH WAS SHORTED TO THE YOKE. AFTER THE WIRES WERE REPLACED, THE SYSTEMS OPERATION CHECKED OK.

NTSB Probable Cause

A SHORTED ELECTRICAL WIRING ON THE ELEVATOR TRIM SYSTEM.

Full Narrative

On May 17, 1995, at 0630 Pacific daylight time, a Fairchild SA227-AC, N2727B, operating as Horizon Air flight 2342, experienced a runaway trim while cruising at 19,000 feet, en route to Spokane, Washington. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the flight that was conducted under 14CFR135. The airplane was not damaged and neither the airline transport pilot, commercial pilot or 15 passengers were injured. The flight had departed from Portland, Oregon, on May 17, 1995, at 0600. The flight landed at Spokane, without further incident, at 0720. The flight crew reported that while cruising at 19,000 feet, there was an intermittent sonalert for the trim in motion. At this time the trim indicator and the aircraft trim were not affected. The captain stated that some minutes later, and just prior to descent, the elevator trim began to move without any input. The captain deactivated the trim on his control yoke, however, the runaway continued. The control was then switched to the co-pilot's position, however, the co-pilot's control would not deactivate the trim. The left side essential bus was then selected off, which deactivated the trim. The airplane then landed without further incident. The captain reported that the trim runaway and DC bus fail checklists were complied with. Maintenance personnel at Horizon Air reported that the captain's side trim power wire was found shorted directly to the left hand essential bus, and the jumper wire at the captain's yoke trim (ground side) switch was found shorted to the yoke. These wires were replaced and the systems operation checked ok.

Flight

Event TypeIncident
Event Time06:30 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftFairchild SA227-AC
Tail NumberN2727B
Aircraft CategoryAir
Operating RulePart 135
Engines2
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsGarrett · TPE-331 · Turboprop · 900
Seats19

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (17 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured17
Total17
Crew 1Age 46 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind200° @ 11 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 1500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point52 / 46
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time13:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data