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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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April 20, 1982 · Rockwell NA-265-65 · N2N

St. Louis, MO

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Incident
Date
April 20, 1982
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
St. Louis, MO
Aircraft
Rockwell NA-265-65
Tail Number
N2N
Operator
Natural Gas Pipeline Co of Am
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Minor
NTSB Number
MKC82IA059

While enroute from Grand Island, NE to Nashville, TN, the pilot noticed that the aircraft would not trim nose down, but that it would trim nose up normally. The pilot reduced speed and altitude and diverted to St. Louis, MO in order to have the problem repaired. On short final to runway 30R, the aircraft pitched down violently. The pilot stated that both pilots were required on the elevator to effect recovery from the pitchover. Once recovered, the approach was continued to a normal landing. Investigation revealed that one of 4 electrical travel limit switches had a loose connection which would allow the actuator to drive to the mechanical stop. After numerous cycles, the actuator sleeve/dust cover would crack allowing the rod ends to disengage from the actuator. It was also determined that with the mechanical flexible shaft interconnect between the two actuators a failure of one electrical limit switch would permit both actuators to be driven to their mechanical limits.

Full Narrative

WHILE ENROUTE FROM GRAND ISLAND, NE TO NASHVILLE, TN, THE PILOT NOTICED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WOULD NOT TRIM NOSE DOWN, BUT THAT IT WOULD TRIM NOSE UP NORMALLY. THE PILOT REDUCED SPEED AND ALTITUDE AND DIVERTED TO ST. LOUIS, MO IN ORDER TO HAVE THE PROBLEM REPAIRED. ON SHORT FINAL TO RUNWAY 30R, THE AIRCRAFT PITCHED DOWN VIOLENTLY. THE PILOT STATED THAT BOTH PILOTS WERE REQUIRED ON THE ELEVATOR TO EFFECT RECOVERY FROM THE PITCHOVER. ONCE RECOVERED, THE APPROACH WAS CONTINUED TO A NORMAL LANDING. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT ONE OF 4 ELECTRICAL TRAVEL LIMIT SWITCHES HAD A LOOSE CONNECTION WHICH WOULD ALLOW THE ACTUATOR TO DRIVE TO THE MECHANICAL STOP. AFTER NUMEROUS CYCLES, THE ACTUATOR SLEEVE/DUST COVER WOULD CRACK ALLOWING THE ROD ENDS TO DISCENGAGE FROM THE ACTUATOR. IT WAS ALSO DETERMINED THAT WITH THE MECHANICAL FLEXIBLE SHAFT INTERCONNECT BETWEEN THE TWO ACTUATORS A FAILURE OF ONE ELECTRICAL LIMIT SWITCH WOULD PERMIT BOTH ACTUATORS TO BE DRIVEN TO THEIR MECHANICAL LIMITS.

Flight

Event TypeIncident
Event Time17:00 CST
Nearest AirportLambert-St. Louis Intl (0nm N)
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftRockwell NA-265-65
Tail NumberN2N
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageMinor
OperatorNatural Gas Pipeline Co of Am
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsAiresearch · TFE731-3R-1D · Turbofan · 3700
Seats9

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 39 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind300° @ 10 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point13 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg

Appendix: Source Data