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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

March 15, 1993 · Boeing 737-130 · N14212

Newark, NJ

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Incident
Date
March 15, 1993
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (61 uninjured)
Location
Newark, NJ
Aircraft
Boeing 737-130
Tail Number
N14212
Operator
Continental Airlines
Injuries
None
NTSB Number
NYC93IA059

Immediately after lift-off, the airplane rolled left, but the pilot controlled the roll with right aileron. The left aileron was observed in a full up position. The captain elected to return and land at the airport. With snow on the runway, he decided to use 15 degree wing flaps until 300 feet, then extend the flaps to 30 degrees. He said he needed full right aileron to maintain control once the flaps were extended to 30 degrees. An exam revealed the left 'down' aileron cable (for down movement) had broken. Also, the left 'up' aileron cable and both right aileron cables were worn and were replaced. Metallurgical examination revealed numerous worn strands in the cables. A 'C' check/inspection of the aileron cables had been accomplished on 12/20/92 (580 flight hours before incident) via procedures. Procedures lacked details and no service life was established for aileron control cables. The 1968 model airplane had about 59,000 flight hours; no record of previous cable replacement was found.

NTSB Probable Cause

INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE/INSPECTION BY COMPANY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL, THE MANUFACTURER'S INADEQUATE INSPECTION AND/OR REPLACEMENT PROCEDURES FOR THE AILERON CABLES, AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE 'DOWN' AILERON CONTROL CABLE DUE TO WEAR.

Full Narrative

IMMEDIATELY AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE AIRPLANE ROLLED LEFT, BUT THE PILOT CONTROLLED THE ROLL WITH RIGHT AILERON. THE LEFT AILERON WAS OBSERVED IN A FULL UP POSITION. THE CAPTAIN ELECTED TO RETURN & LAND AT THE AIRPORT. WITH SNOW ON THE RUN- WAY, HE DECIDED TO USE 15 DEGREE WING FLAPS UNTIL 300', THEN EXTEND THE FLAPS TO 30 DEGREES. HE SAID HE NEEDED FULL RIGHT AILERON TO MAINTAIN CONTROL ONCE THE FLAPS WERE EXTENDED TO 30 DEGREES. AN EXAM REVEALED THE LEFT 'DOWN' AILERON CABLE (FOR DOWN MOVEMENT) HAD BROKEN. ALSO, THE LEFT 'UP' AILERON CABLE & BOTH RIGHT AILERON CABLES WERE WORN & WERE REPLACED. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION REVEALED NUMEROUS WORN STRANDS IN THE CABLES. A 'C' CHECK/INSPECTION OF THE AILERON CABLES HAD BEEN ACCOMPLISHED ON 12/20/92 (580 FLIGHT HOURS BEFORE INCIDENT) VIA PROCEDURES. PROCEDURES LACKED DETAILS & NO SERVICE LIFE WAS ESTABLISHED FOR AILERON CONTROL CABLES. THE 1968 MODEL AIRPLANE HAD ABOUT 59,000 FLIGHT HOURS; NO RECORD OF PREVIOUS CABLE REPLACEMENT WAS FOUND.

Flight

Event TypeIncident
Event Time09:20 EST
Nearest AirportNewark Intl (0nm)
Runway22R
Runway Length9300 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBoeing 737-130
Tail NumberN14212
Aircraft CategoryAir
OperatorContinental Airlines
Operating RulePart 121
Engines2
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsP&W · JT8D · Turbofan · 14500
Seats100

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (61 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured61
Total61
Crew 1Age 58 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind240° @ 11 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point19 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data