What happened
On August 21, 2003, an Avro 146-RJ100, registered as HB-IXW, was performing a scheduled IFR flight from Dublin to Zurich. While the aircraft was approximately 1,000 feet above the ground during its approach, it suddenly veered 45 degrees to the left. The crew responded by applying full right rudder, which allowed them to stabilize the aircraft and complete the landing on runway 16.
There were no fatalities and no injuries among the two crew members or the 97 passengers on board. The aircraft sustained slight damage to the left-hand inboard flaps.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the technical malfunction that occurred during the descent. Upon inspection of the aircraft following the landing, investigators discovered that the rod for the inner spoiler actuator on the left side had broken. This failure caused the spoiler to remain partially deployed during the approach.
Because the technical cause was identified immediately, the investigation transitioned into a broader industry-wide response. The findings led to immediate inspections of the fleet, the issuance of service bulletins, and the eventual implementation of an airworthiness directive (EASA AD 2006-139). As the technical issue was addressed by manufacturers, authorities, and operators across the fleet, the investigation was subsequently closed.
Findings
- The primary cause of the directional deviation was a broken rod in the left-side inner spoiler actuator, which resulted in partial spoiler deployment.
- The crew successfully managed the aircraft's stability through significant rudder input.