NTSB · Safety Recommendation
Safety Recommendation A-03-022
Recommendation
TO THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION: Require all DC-8 operators to train DC-8 flight crewmembers to look for symmetry between the right and left side elevators, control tabs, and geared tabs during the preflight inspection, consistent with Boeing's June 2001 flight operations bulletin guidance.
Safety Issue and Context
On February 16, 2000, about 1951 Pacific standard time, Emery Worldwide Airlines, Inc., (Emery) flight 17, a McDonnell Douglas1 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.
Response History
January 12, 2005 · NTSB Correspondence · FAA
The Safety Board notes that on December 10, 2003, the FAA issued Notice N8400.58, "Elevator Flight Control Check-All DC-8 Airplanes." The notice advises principal operations inspectors (POIs) to ensure (1) that appropriate assigned carriers have a copy of Boeing FOB DC-8-01-02 and (2) that it is included in the operator's procedures. With the issuance of the notice, which includes tracking compliance by the appropriate airlines in the Program Tracking and Reporting System, the FAA has completed the recommended action; therefore, Safety Recommendation A-03-22 is classified "Closed--Acceptable Action."
January 12, 2004 · Recipient Response · FAA
Letter Mail Controlled 1/23/2004 10:15:50 AM MC# 2040040 The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) agrees with the intent of this safety recommendation and will issue a notice to principal operations inspectors to request that they inform their DC-8 operators to train flight crewmembers to conduct an elevator flight control rollout check in accordance with Flight Operations Bulletin No. DC-8-01-02. The FAA plans to issue the notice by December 2003. I will provide the Board with a copy of the notice as soon as it is issued. Meeting With FAA on Emery Recommendations, 4/27/04: Minutes Attached