Incident Overview

Date: Wednesday 16 October 2002
Aircraft Type: Dornier 228-200
Owner/operator: LGW – Luftfahrtgesellschaft Walter
Registration Number: D-IKBA
Location: near Paderborn-Lippstadt – ÿ Germany
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Substantial, repaired
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 20
Component Affected: RudderRudder
Investigating Agency: BFUBFU
Category: Accident
An LGW flight 615 experienced a sudden rudder failure during ascent through FL80, resulting in a swing. The crew reduced speed to 120 knots and diverted to Paderborn-Lippstadt. Upon landing, significant metal sheeting separation was observed on both sides of the rudder, indicating a failure to follow manufacturer’s guidelines during the new sheeting process. The accident is attributed to improper application of procedure instructions.An LGW flight 615 experienced a sudden rudder failure during ascent through FL80, resulting in a swing. The crew reduced speed to 120 knots and diverted to Paderborn-Lippstadt. Upon landing, significant metal sheeting separation was observed on both sides of the rudder, indicating a failure to follow manufacturer’s guidelines during the new sheeting process. The accident is attributed to improper application of procedure instructions.

Description

LGW flight 615 departed Leipzig for Dortmund. While climbing through FL80 at an indicated airspeed of 175 knots, the plane suddenly started to swing. The crew contacted Bremen Radar and reported that they had a rudder failure. They reduced the speed to 120 knots upon which the swinging stopped. The crew decided to divert to Paderborn-Lippstadt and were cleared for a straight-in approach to runway 24. The aircraft landed safely at 18:40. On the ground it appeared that the metal sheeting of the rudder had separated completely on both sides of the rudder. The rudder had just recently been fitted with new sheeting, which had been done without using the guidelines issued by the manufacturer. PROBABLE CAUSE: “The accident is due to the fact that the procedure instructions issued by the aircraft manufacturer were not applied during the sheeting of the rudder and the measure was not carried out correctly or with the necessary care.”

Primary Cause

Failure to apply manufacturer’s procedure instructions during rudder sheeting.Failure to apply manufacturer’s procedure instructions during rudder sheeting.

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