US Recent Aviation Accident
| Title | Loss of Pitch Control on Takeoff |
| Description | Loss of Pitch Control on Takeoff, Emery Worldwide Airlines, Inc., McDonnell Douglas DC-8-71F, N8079U, Rancho Cordova, California, February 16, 2000 | NTSB Report Number | AAR-03-02, adopted on 8/5/2003 | NTIS Report Number | PB2003-910402 |
| Related Information | |
On February 16, 2000, about 1951 Pacific standard time, Emery Worldwide Airlines, Inc., (Emery) flight 17, a McDonnell Douglas DC-8-71F (DC-8), N8079U, crashed in an automobile salvage yard shortly after takeoff, while attempting to return to Sacramento Mather Airport (MHR), Rancho Cordova, California, for an emergency landing. Emery flight 17 was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 121 as a scheduled cargo flight from MHR to James M. Cox Dayton International Airport (DAY), Dayton, Ohio. The flight departed MHR about 1949, with two pilots and a flight engineer on board. The three flight crewmembers were killed, and the airplane was destroyed. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated on an instrument flight rules flight plan. The National Transportation Safety Board determined that the probable cause of the accident was a loss of pitch control resulting from the disconnection of the right elevator control tab. The disconnection was caused by the failure to properly secure and inspect the attachment bolt. The safety issues discussed in this report include DC-8 elevator position indicator
installation and usage, adequacy of DC-8 maintenance work cards (required inspection
items), and DC-8 elevator control tab design. Safety recommendations are addressed
to the Federal Aviation Administration. | |
