No fatalities

Rudder Ratio Warning and Uncommanded Rudder Movement During Cruise (N757NA)

Jamaica, NY, US

On September 13, 1993, a Boeing 757-200ER (registration N757NA) operated by North American Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Jamaica, NY. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Malfunction of the left hydraulic pressure switch in the left yaw damper module. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 6 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards
Aircraft registered N757NA
Aircraft registered N757NA. Photo: Aero Icarus from Zürich, Switzerland / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

During cruise, a rudder ratio warning light appeared, followed by uncommanded right rudder movement. The crew counteracted manually and landed safely at the departure airport. After repeated warnings, a malfunctioning left hydraulic pressure switch was found and replaced.

Incident Description

During cruise flight, the flight crew observed a rudder ratio warning light illumination. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft experienced uncommanded right rudder movement accompanied by left aileron input. The airplane remained under control, and the crew manually counteracted the rudder movement. The captain decided to abort the flight and performed a safe landing at the departure airport.

Subsequent Warnings

On two subsequent flights, the rudder ratio warning was again displayed, despite repeated maintenance attempts to resolve the discrepancy. Over a span of approximately two months, a total of four warnings occurred.

Examination and Resolution

After the fourth warning, an examination of the left yaw damper module was conducted. The inspection revealed a malfunction in the left hydraulic pressure switch within that module. The unit was removed and replaced. Following this replacement, no further incidents involving a rudder ratio warning were reported.

Probable cause

Malfunction of the left hydraulic pressure switch in the left yaw damper module.

All Boeing 757-200 accidents →

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 13 Sept 1993 Boeing 757-200ER accident near Jamaica, NY?

During cruise, a rudder ratio warning light appeared, followed by uncommanded right rudder movement. The crew counteracted manually and landed safely at the departure airport. After repeated warnings, a malfunctioning left hydraulic pressure switch was found and replaced.

Were there any fatalities in the 13 Sept 1993 Boeing 757-200ER accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 13 Sept 1993 involved a Boeing 757-200ER, registration N757NA, operated by North American Airlines, at Jamaica, NY.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

Malfunction of the left hydraulic pressure switch in the left yaw damper module.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001211X13324. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.