What happened
The aircraft was in the final stages of approach, flaring for landing when a mechanical failure occurred. The flight crew reported hearing a distinct popping sound, immediately followed by the rudder pedal deflecting fully to its stop. Despite this sudden loss of rudder authority, the pilot successfully maintained directional control throughout the remainder of the flare and executed a normal landing without incident.
The investigation
Post-accident examination revealed that the cable controlling the left rudder had severed completely. The root cause was traced to improper routing of the control cables. This error occurred during a scheduled replacement of the control cables, which was being performed in compliance with an Airworthiness Directive. The incorrect installation path led to excessive stress or interference that caused the cable to fail during the high-load phase of landing.
Findings
The failure was not due to material fatigue or manufacturing defects but rather a procedural error during maintenance. The improper routing compromised the structural integrity of the cable under operational loads. The crew's ability to maintain control highlights effective handling skills despite the sudden loss of primary flight control surface functionality.