Casualties unknown

Spoiler Control Arm Entanglement Prompts Return After Takeoff (N1758B)

Dfw Airport, TX, US

On October 14, 1994, a Mcdonnell Douglas MD-11 (registration N1758B) operated by U. S. Africa Airways was involved in an aviation accident near Dfw Airport, TX. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The cable bus guard had been installed incorrectly (reversed 180 degrees from the correct installation). This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards
Aircraft registered N1758B
Aircraft registered N1758B. Photo: P. Duboi / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

An aircraft experienced a right roll and yaw during initial climb. The crew corrected the deviation and returned to the departure airport. Post-landing inspection revealed a reversed aileron cable bus guard caused entanglement with the spoiler control arm.

Incident Overview

During the initial climb after takeoff, the aircraft encountered an uncommanded right roll and yaw. The flight crew successfully arrested the unwanted roll and yaw movements and subsequently returned to the departure airport without further issues.

Post-Flight Inspection

Following the landing, a detailed inspection of the aircraft's flight control system revealed that the right-hand spoiler control arm had become entangled in the right aileron cable bus guard. This entanglement was the direct cause of the control anomalies experienced during the climb.

Root Cause Determination

Further examination of the aileron cable bus guard, combined with a review of the engineering drawings for the component, disclosed that the bus guard had been installed incorrectly. Specifically, the guard was rotated 180 degrees from its correct orientation, leading to the interference with the spoiler control arm.

Corrective Action

The incorrectly installed bus guard was rectified to the proper position as per the engineering specifications. No further incidents attributable to this installation error were reported.

Probable cause

The cable bus guard had been installed incorrectly (reversed 180 degrees from the correct installation).

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001206X02432. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.