Embraer 120 N129AM

Summary

On 20 February 1996 at about 20:05 local time, a Embraer 120 registered N129AM, operated by Great Lakes Aviation Ltd, was involved in an incident near Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. 8 people were on board and nobody was injured. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 February 1996 at 20:05

Classification

Incident

Location

Raleigh, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Raleigh-Durham Intl (RDU)

Coordinates

35.8306, -78.8304

Aircraft

Embraer 120

Registration

N129AM

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Great Lakes Aviation Ltd

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Wilmington

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL96IA053

Nobody was injured.

The operator's inadequate progressive inspection program that did not require periodic analysis of airplane hydraulic system fluid; and the failure of the operator to comply with the airplane manufacturer's maintenance manual resulting in contamination of the airplane's hydraulic system that exceeded the maximum contamination level.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the flightcrew, during the initial climb after takeoff, an uncommanded right rudder pedal hardover occurred, during which the right rudder pedal moved to the fully depressed position. The hydraulic system was deenergized and an uneventful landing was made at the departure airport. A postincident examination of the airplane's rudder control system did not reveal any discrepancies. However, hydraulic system fluid samples were obtained and analyzed, along with an inspection, testing, and disassembly of the rudder hydraulic power control unit and the rudder actuators. As a result of the testing, contamination was found in the fluid samples from the airplane's hydraulic reservoirs and the power control unit that exceeded the maximum levels established by the airplane manufacturer's maintenance manual. The operator's FAA accepted general operating manual requires compliance with the manufacturer's maintenance manual. Additionally, the operator did not have an established procedure for periodically sampling and analyzing hydraulic fluid from airplane systems.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.