ClearedForTakeOff
13-06-10, 09:01
Incident: Rossiya A148 near St. Petersburg on Jun 4th 2010, temporary loss of control due to uncommanded rudder deflection
By Simon Hradecky, created Saturday, Jun 12th 2010 16:53Z, last updated Saturday, Jun 12th 2010 17:20Z
A Rossiya Antonov AN-148-100, registration RA-61701 performing flight FV-132 from Moscow Vnukovo to Saint Petersburg (Russia), was on approach to Saint Petersburg descending through 10600 feet with autopilot engaged, when the airplane experienced an uncommanded rudder deflection. The crew was able to regain control of the airplane about 90 seconds later when the rudder returned to neutral position, the aircraft reached a maximum of 56 degrees right bank and 23 degrees nose down. The crew subsequently managed a safe landing at Saint Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport.
Passengers reported that the airplane had violently rolled to the right and departed controlled flight before the crew was able to control the airplane again and apologized to the passengers.
A document summarizing a meeting between Russia's MAK, Rossiya and Antonov discussing the incident said flight data recorders indicated the airplane was in controlled flight with the autopilot engaged and was descending through 10600 feet, when the rudder deflected right by 3.5 degrees. About 2 seconds later the crew reacted by applying substantial left hand aileron input which disengaged the autopilot. Although the crew applied more and more left hand rudder besides left hand aileron input, the rudder deflected further to the right up to 4.6 degrees in the following 70 seconds. About 90 seconds after the begin, when the crew already applied full left hand rudder (reaching the mechanical stop of the rudder pedals) the rudder returned to its centered position and the crew was able to re-gain control of the aircraft, that had experienced a maximum of 56 degrees right hand bank angle and 23 degrees nose down pitch.
Examination of the aircraft electronics and error recording showed 11 failure codes had been registered concerning the rudder's control unit, electronic sensor circuitry and actuator circuitry. The investigation is going to examine mechanical assemblies, cable tensions, wiring, and hydraulic system and fluid in detail as well.
A power supply for the feedback sensors (rudder position sensors) has already been identified faulty.
By Simon Hradecky, created Saturday, Jun 12th 2010 16:53Z, last updated Saturday, Jun 12th 2010 17:20Z
A Rossiya Antonov AN-148-100, registration RA-61701 performing flight FV-132 from Moscow Vnukovo to Saint Petersburg (Russia), was on approach to Saint Petersburg descending through 10600 feet with autopilot engaged, when the airplane experienced an uncommanded rudder deflection. The crew was able to regain control of the airplane about 90 seconds later when the rudder returned to neutral position, the aircraft reached a maximum of 56 degrees right bank and 23 degrees nose down. The crew subsequently managed a safe landing at Saint Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport.
Passengers reported that the airplane had violently rolled to the right and departed controlled flight before the crew was able to control the airplane again and apologized to the passengers.
A document summarizing a meeting between Russia's MAK, Rossiya and Antonov discussing the incident said flight data recorders indicated the airplane was in controlled flight with the autopilot engaged and was descending through 10600 feet, when the rudder deflected right by 3.5 degrees. About 2 seconds later the crew reacted by applying substantial left hand aileron input which disengaged the autopilot. Although the crew applied more and more left hand rudder besides left hand aileron input, the rudder deflected further to the right up to 4.6 degrees in the following 70 seconds. About 90 seconds after the begin, when the crew already applied full left hand rudder (reaching the mechanical stop of the rudder pedals) the rudder returned to its centered position and the crew was able to re-gain control of the aircraft, that had experienced a maximum of 56 degrees right hand bank angle and 23 degrees nose down pitch.
Examination of the aircraft electronics and error recording showed 11 failure codes had been registered concerning the rudder's control unit, electronic sensor circuitry and actuator circuitry. The investigation is going to examine mechanical assemblies, cable tensions, wiring, and hydraulic system and fluid in detail as well.
A power supply for the feedback sensors (rudder position sensors) has already been identified faulty.