DC9 CREW HAD JAMMED R ELEVATOR; DETECTOR ON EARLY ROTATION.

Date: 2000-04 · Aircraft: DC-9 50

Anomalies: aircraft-equipment-problem-critical|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-maintenance|other-jambed-rt-elivator

Synopsis

DC9 CREW HAD JAMMED R ELEVATOR; DETECTOR ON EARLY ROTATION.

Narrative

ACR FLT FROM KAHULUI; MAUI; TO HONOLULU; DISTANCE 89 NM. ACFT ROTATED EARLY ON TKOF ROLL; APPROX 15 KTS PRIOR TO V1; FO FLYING SAID IT FELT OUT OF TRIM; AND ADJUSTED STABILIZER ACFT NOSE DOWN. NORMAL CLBOUT. AFTER CLEANUP; PLT NOTICED SLIGHT VIBRATION IN CTL COLUMN. INCREASED AIRSPD; CAUSED VIBRATION TO INCREASE. DECISION MADE TO SLOW AIRSPD TO 250 KTS AND PROCEED TO DEST. ACFT WAS FULLY MANEUVERABLE IN ALL AXIS; THOUGH SOMEWHAT STIFF AND SLUGGISH IN PITCH CTL. NORMAL CRUISE; DSCNT AND LNDG. UPON BLOCK IN; ENTERED WRITE-UP IN MAINT LOGBOOK. R ELEVATOR WAS FOUND TO BE STUCK. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: 3 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT THE ACR SENT THE ACFT TO A CONTRACT MAINT SHOP FOR A D CHK. DURING THIS CHK THE CONTRACT MAINT SHOP DID NOT SECURE A NUT IN THE ELEVATOR SYS PROPERLY. THEY LEFT OFF A COTTER PIN. THIS ALLOWED A NUT IN THE ELEVATOR SYS TO BACK OFF AND JAM THE R ELEVATOR. THE ACR DID A GENERAL FLEET INSPECTION AND OTHER ACFT WERE FOUND WITH THE MISSING COTTER PIN. THE FAA WAS NOTIFIED AND IS PERUSING PROBS WITH THE CONTRACT MAINT SHOP.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.