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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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November 6, 1986 · Boeing 757-251 · N516US

Washington, DC

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Incident
Date
November 6, 1986
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (188 uninjured)
Location
Washington, DC
Aircraft
Boeing 757-251
Tail Number
N516US
Injuries
None
NTSB Number
CHI87IA026

DRG AN EN ROUTE CLIMB, AILERON CONTROL (CTL) BCM PROGRESSIVELY MORE STIFF. AT CRUISE ALT, THE AUTOPLT DISENGAGED & THE AILERONS WOULD NOT MOVE. AILERON CTL WAS RESTORED AFTER A DSCNT BELOW THE FREEZING LEVEL. THE ACFT WAS FLOWN BELOW THE FREEZING LVL FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FLT. A POST-FLT MAINT INSPN REVEALED NO PHYSICAL EVIDENCE FOR THE TEMPORARY LOSS OF AILERON CTL. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT BEFORE TAKEOFF, THE ACFT WAS EXPOSED TO RAIN FOR ABOUT 50 MIN WHILE PARKED AT A GATE. THE TEMPERATURE IN WASHINGTON WAS IN THE MID 40'S. THE OPERATOR SUSPECTED ICE BUILD-UP ON THE AILERON CABLES. THE MANUFACTURER HAD ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN (SB) (SB B-757-0079) TO REMOVE THE AILERON CABLE GROMMETS & APPLYA SEALANT TO ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM. THE SB HAD BEEN COMPLIED WITH. AFTER THE INCIDENT, A REVISED SB, DATED 11/6/86, WAS ISSUED TO REPLACE THE AILERON CABLE GROMMETS WITH NEW GROMMETS WITH INCREASED INTERNAL DIAMETER. ALSO, AN OPNS MANUAL BULLETIN (NUMBER 87-1) WAS ISSUED ON 1/22/87 TO ADVISE FLT CREWS.

Full Narrative

DRG AN EN ROUTE CLIMB, AILERON CONTROL (CTL) BCM PROGRESSIVELY MORE STIFF. AT CRUISE ALT, THE AUTOPLT DISENGAGED & THE AILERONS WOULD NOT MOVE. AILERON CTL WAS RESTORED AFTER A DSCNT BELOW THE FREEZING LEVEL. THE ACFT WAS FLOWN BELOW THE FREEZING LVL FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FLT. A POST-FLT MAINT INSPN REVEALED NO PHYSICAL EVIDENCE FOR THE TEMPORARY LOSS OF AILERON CTL. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT BEFORE TAKEOFF, THE ACFT WAS EXPOSED TO RAIN FOR ABOUT 50 MIN WHILE PARKED AT A GATE. THE TEMPERATURE IN WASHINGTON WAS IN THE MID 40'S. THE OPERATOR SUSPECTED ICE BUILD-UP ON THE AILERON CABLES. THE MANUFACTURER HAD ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN (SB) (SB B-757-0079) TO REMOVE THE AILERON CABLE GROMMETS & APPLYA SEALANT TO ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM. THE SB HAD BEEN COMPLIED WITH. AFTER THE INCIDENT, A REVISED SB, DATED 11/6/86, WAS ISSUED TO REPLACE THE AILERON CABLE GROMMETS WITH NEW GROMMETS WITH INCREASED INTERNAL DIAMETER. ALSO, AN OPNS MANUAL BULLETIN (NUMBER 87-1) WAS ISSUED ON 1/22/87 TO ADVISE FLT CREWS.

Flight

Event TypeIncident
Event Time22:00 EST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBoeing 757-251
Tail NumberN516US
Aircraft CategoryAir
Operating RulePart 121
Engines2
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsP&W · 2037 · Turbofan · 3700
Seats188

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (188 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured188
Total188
Crew 1Age 48 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
WindCalm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data