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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

April 30, 1998 · Douglas DC-9-34 · N928L

St. Louis, MO

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Incident
Date
April 30, 1998
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (44 uninjured)
Location
St. Louis, MO
Aircraft
Douglas DC-9-34
Tail Number
N928L
Operator
Trans World Airlines
Injuries
None
NTSB Number
CHI98IA169

The flight experienced a flight control malfunction after takeoff. The flight declared an emergency and returned to the airport safely with no damage to the aircraft or injuries to the crew or passengers. The Captain stated: 'After takeoff the aircraft began to yaw and roll in a cyclic fashion left and right. I switched the yaw damper off and on to ensure that the yaw damper was on. Yaw and roll continued and appeared to increase in its yaw amplitude as the airspeed increased... I declared an 'Emergency' and requested an immediate return for a landing with the emergency equipment standing by... The landing was made in a normal fashion without damage to the aircraft or injury to anyone on board. Total air time was 6 minutes.' The Stability Augmentation Computer, Part 2587826-3, S/N 0270890 was inspected at the TWA Maintenance Facility. The inspection determined that the yaw rate gyro of the Stab Aug Computer had been installed in a reverse position that was 180 degrees opposite from the correct position.

NTSB Probable Cause

the yaw rate gyro of the Stab Aug Computer had been installed in a reverse position that was 180 degrees opposite from the correct position.

Full Narrative

On April 30, 1998, at 1040 cdt, N928L, a McDonnell Douglas DC9-34, being operated as Trans World Airlines flight number 732, from Saint Louis, Missouri to Toronto, Canada, experienced a flight control malfunction after takeoff. The flight declared an emergency and returned to Saint Louis. There was no damage to the aircraft and there were no injuries to the crew of 5 or 39 passengers. The flight was on an IFR flight plan and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The Captain's report states: "After takeoff the aircraft began to yaw and roll in a cyclic fashion left and right. I switched the yaw damper off and on to ensure that the yaw damper was on. Yaw and roll continued and appeared to increase in its yaw amplitude as the airspeed increased... I declared an 'Emergency' and requested an immediate return for a landing with the emergency equipment standing by... The landing was made in a normal fashion without damage to the aircraft or injury to anyone on board. Total air time was 6 minutes." The Captain's full statement is an attachment to this factual report. The aircraft was a DC-9-34, S/N 48124. The Stability Augmentation Computer, Part 2587826-3, S/N 0270890 was inspected at the TWA Maintenance Facility in Kansas City, Kansas on May 27, 1998. Present at the inspection were personnel from TWA, FAA, NTSB, and Honeywell. See attached "Inspection Sign in Sheet". The inspection determined that the yaw rate gyro of the Stab Aug Computer had been installed in a reverse position that was 180 degrees opposite from the correct position. It was further determined that there is a correct "red alignment mark" and the gyro was not aligned with the red mark. There is a keyway; however, in this circumstance the pin was flush allowing the gyro to be installed in an incorrect manner.

Flight

Event TypeIncident
Event Time10:40 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireUnknown
Aircraft ExplosionUnknown

Aircraft

AircraftDouglas DC-9-34
Tail NumberN928L
Aircraft CategoryAir
OperatorTrans World Airlines
Operating RulePart 121
Engine TypeUnknown
Engine DetailsUnknown

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (44 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured44
Total44
Crew 1Unknown

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightNr
WindCalm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0

Appendix: Source Data