MINR · MCDONNELL DOUGLAS MD80 · 2017-03-08 · Ypsilanti, MI, USA
Event
NTSB number
DCA17FA076
Event ID
20170308X73155
Type
Accident
Date
2017-03-08
Location
Ypsilanti, MI, USA
Coordinates
42.243888, -83.542503
Injuries
Highest injury
MINR
Fatal
0
Serious
0
Minor
1
Uninjured
115
Total aboard
116
Aircraft
Make
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS
Model
MD80
Registration
N786TW
FAR Part
121
Engines
2
Damage
SUBS
Conditions
Light
DAYL
Weather
VMC
Probable cause
the jammed condition of the airplane's right elevator, which resulted from exposure to localized, dynamic wind while the airplane was parked and rendered the airplane unable to rotate during takeoff. Contributing to the accident were (1) the effect of a large structure on the gusting surface wind at the airplane's parked location, which led to turbulent gust loads on the right elevator sufficient to jam it, even though the horizontal surface wind speed was below the certification design limit and maintenance inspection criteria for the airplane, and (2) the lack of a means to enable the flight crew to detect a jammed elevator during preflight checks for the Boeing MD-83 airplane. Contributing to the survivability of the accident was the captain's timely and appropriate decision to reject the takeoff, the check airman's disciplined adherence to standard operating procedures after the captain called for the rejected takeoff, and the dimensionally compliant runway safety area where the overrun occurred.