NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE04006

DURING THE PE, NHTSA GATHERED INFORMATION ABOUT THE THROTTLE CONTROL PERFORMANCE OF AEVIT ADAPTIVE CONTROL DEVICES PRODUCED BY EMC AND USED BY HANDICAPPED DRIVERS TO OPERATE VEHICLE THROTTLE AND BRAKING SYSTEMS.ODI OPENED THE INVESTIGATION AFTER RECEIVING A CRASH REPORT CONCERNING AN ALLEGED AEVIT SYSTEM FAILURE RESULTING IN THE DRIVER'S DEATH.NHTSA LATER FOUND THAT THE AEVIT THROTTLE CABLE HAD FRAYED RESULTING IN A STUCK-THROTTLE CONDITION.BECAUSE THE OPERATOR WAS UNABLE TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING, HE CRASHED, SUSTAINING MINOR INJURIES.HOWEVER, UNABLE TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE, HE DIED OF EXPOSURE BEFORE BEING FOUND TWO DAYS LATER.NHTSA'S TEST CENTERNOTED THAT THE SYSTEM'S THROTTE CABLE HAD FATIGUED DUE TO CABLE DEFORMATION OCCURRING WHILE USING THE VEHICLE'S CRUISE CONTROL AND/OR WHEN DRIVEN BY AN ABLE-BODIED DRIVER.RECALL 04E035 ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE.WHILE CONDUCTING THE PE, WE ALSO RECEIVED REPORTS ALLEGING AEVIT THROTTLECABLE ANCHORAGE FAILURES WHERE THE ENGINE SPEED WOULD DROP TO, AND REMAIN AT, IDLE REGARDLESS OF OPERATOR THROTTLE INPUTS.RECALL 04E036 ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE.WITH EMC'S TWO RECALLS, THIS PE IS CLOSED.