Douglas DC-8-63 N870BX

Summary

On 15 September 1993 at about 06:08 local time, a Douglas DC-8-63 registered N870BX, operated by American International, was involved in an incident near Toledo, Ohio, United States. 7 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was slightly damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 September 1993 at 06:08

Classification

Incident

Location

Toledo, Ohio, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Douglas DC-8-63

Registration

N870BX

Category

Airplane

Engines

4

Operator

American International

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Atlanta → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Minor

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

BFO93IA176

Nobody was injured.

THE OPERATOR MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL'S FAILURE TO PERFORM AN ADEQUATE INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE, WHICH LED TO A WORN AILERON CABLE WHICH SEPARATED IN FLIGHT AND CAUSED A LOSS OF CONTROL.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING THE NIGHT INSTRUMENT LANDING SYSTEM APPROACH, THE FIRST OFFICER WAS UNABLE TO KEEP THE AIRPLANE ALIGNED WITH THE LOCALIZER. THE CAPTAIN TOOK THE CONTROLS AND WAS FORCED TO UTILIZE FULL RIGHT AILERON AND FULL RIGHT AILERON TRIM TO KEEP THE AIRPLANE LEVEL. A MISSED APPROACH WAS EXECUTED AND AN EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED. THE CREW PERFORMED ANOTHER APPROACH WITH 'SEVERE AILERON PROBLEMS' BUT LANDED SAFELY. AN EXAMINATION REVEALED A SEPARATED AILERON CABLE. METALLURGICAL ANALYSIS REVEALED THAT THE CABLE WAS SEVERELY WORN, WHICH CAUSED THE SEPARATION. THE AIRPLANE UNDERWENT A 'C' CHECK INSPECTION ABOUT 2,582 HOURS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. NO RECORDS WERE FOUND TO INDICATE THE AILERON CABLES WERE ADEQUATELY INSPECTED OR REPLACED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.