Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Albany, New York 12211
Wednesday, May 22, 2002 9:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The Dornier 328-300 experienced uncommanded rudder oscillations on descent. At the start of the oscillations, the autopilot was engaged. However, it was disengaged and the oscillations continued. The integrated avionics computer (IAC) was replaced, and the airplane was given a maintenance test flight. No problems were noted and the airplane was returned to service. Examination of the IAC found no direct link between the rudder oscillations and the IAC. Seven months after the event, it has not reoccurred. The cause of the oscillations was not determined.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Rudder oscillations of an undetermined origin.

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 5/22/2002
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 900
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Albany
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 12211
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 424400N
Event Location Longitude 0734800W
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 851 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID ALB
Elevation of weather observation facility 285
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.36
Density Altitude (feet) -410
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 5
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13206
NTSB Notification Source Atlantic Coast Airlines
NTSB Notification Date May 22 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 959
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 18 2003 4:34PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Albany, New York

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N421FJ
NTSB Number NYC02IA100
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 121: Air Carrier
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage None
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Dornier
Aircraft Model 328-300
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 3179
Certified Max Gross Weight 33841
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 35
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection May 21 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 6
Airframe Hours 2609
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name First Union National Bank
Aircraft Owner Street Address 401 S Tyron St. 12th Floor
Aircraft Owner City Charlotte
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 28288
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Atlantic Coast Airlines
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 45200 Business Court
Operator City Dulles
Operator State VA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 20166
Operator Code VTZA
Owner has at least one certificate --
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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/Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) --
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code CVG
Departure City Covington
Departure State KY
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 727
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ALB
Destination City Albany
Destination State NY
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Descent - normal
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Feb 20 2003 2:03PM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --