Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Detroit, Michigan 48231
Tuesady, January 26, 1993 9:52 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE CAPTAIN OBTAINED NO RESPONSE TO NOSE-UP STABILIZER TRIM DURING DESCENT. NORMAL NOSE-DOWN TRIM REMAINED OPERABLE; ALTERNATE TRIM WAS NOT ATTEMPTED. THE CREW REPORTED A JAMMED STABILIZER AND LANDED WITH NOSE-DOWN TRIM. DISASSEMBLY OF THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER CONTROL UNIT SHOWED INADEQUATE LUBRICANT AND EXTENSIVE CORROSION IN A GEARBOX. THE AIRFRAME MANUFACTURER'S PROCEDURE FOR REPLENISHING THE GEARBOX LUBRICANT COULD RESULT IN UNDERSERVICING. THE OPERATOR OBSERVED A GEARBOX SERVICE INTERVAL WHICH WAS 250% OF THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

IMPROPER LUBRICATION OF THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER GEARBOX BY COMPANY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL. A FACTOR WAS THE MANUFACTURER'S INADEQUATE SERVICE PROCEDURE.

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 1/26/1993
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 952
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City DETROIT
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 48231
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 950 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID DTW
Elevation of weather observation facility 639
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 14
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 42
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 5014
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 27 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1015
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 52814
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:06PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N452US
NTSB Number CHI93IA078
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 121: Air Carrier
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage None
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name FOKKER
Aircraft Model F-28 MK 1000
Aircraft Series Identifier F.28 MK 10
Aircraft Serial Number 11105
Certified Max Gross Weight 56700
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 65
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Mar 9 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 1265
Airframe Hours 30309
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name USAIR
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2345 CRYSTAL DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City ARLINGTON
Aircraft Owner State VA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 22227
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name USAIR
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address RIDC PARK WEST, 15 COMMERCE
Operator City PITTSBURGH
Operator State PA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 15231
Operator Code USAA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code BWI
Departure City BALTIMORE
Departure State MD
Departure Country
Departure Time 840
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 28 2001 1:01PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --