N771FE
Registered owner: FEDERAL EXPRESS CORP, TN (owner ≠ operator)
Operators of this aircraft
Who operated this tail, and how firmly we know it.
| Operator | Role | Period | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| WEST AIR, INC. (AWHA) | Certificate holder | — | Matched by certificate designator |
Accident & incident history
No NTSB accidents or incidents on file for this aircraft.
Maintenance disclosures
DURING A RIGHT TURN ENTERING THE PARKING AREA AT THE RAMP, THE PILOT APPLIED RIGHT BRAKE AND RUDDER TO MAKE THE TURN. THE RIGHT BRAKE PEDAL WENT "FULL TRAVEL" WITH NO BRAKING EFFECT. HE MAINTAINED FULL RIGHT RUDDER AND FOLLOWED UP WITH 2 PUMPS OF THE RIGHT BRAKE WHICH RESULTED IN SOME BRAKING ACTION, APPROXIMATELY 50-60 PERCENT. THIS ALLOWED ENOUGH CONTROL TO CLEAR THE BUILDING AND PARK. HE ESTIMATED HIS TAXI SPEED ENTERING THE PARKING AREA AT 3-4 MPH OR A SLOW WALK. THE RIGHT MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED, THE SYSTEM BLEED, FUNCTIONAL CHECK PERFORMED AND THE AIRCRAFT RETURNED TO SERVICE. THIS IS A REPEAT DISCREPANCY FROM A WEEK AGO UNDER SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES. THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS FACTORY NEW WITH 9.7 HOUR SINCE INSTALLATION.
THE PILOT REPORTED WHILE TAXIING INTO THE SMF RAMP, EXPERIENCED A RIGHT BRAKE FAILURE. HE WAS AT NORMAL TAXI SPEED ENTERING THE RAMP WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY SMOOTH RIGHT RUDDER AND BRAKE TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT TURN. HE WAS ABLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP USING LEFT BRAKE ONLY. AFTER FOUR OR FIVE PUMPS ON THE RIGHT BRAKE, FULL BRAKE PRESSURE WAS RETURNED. HE THEN SLOWLY TAXIED FORWARD WHILE TESTING THE BRAKES. BOTH WORKED NORMAL AND HE WAS ABLE TO PARK THE AIRCRAFT IN THE DESIGNATED SPOT WITH OUT FURTHER INCIDENT. MAINTENANCE REMOVED AND REPLACED THE RIGHT BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. THE SYSTEM WAS BLEED AND FUNCTIONAL TEST PERFORMED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS RETURNED TO SERVICE.
DURING SCHEDULED INSPECTION, MAINTENANCE OBSERVED THE RUDDER TRIM NUT TO HAVE GROOVES WORN INTO THE NUT ON BOTH ENDS WHERE THE NET ATTACHED TO THE RUDDER BAR. THE RUDDER NUT PASSES THROUGH TWO ARMS ATTACHED TO THE RUDDER BAR. ACTUATION OF THE RUDDER TRIM CAUSES THE NUT TO APPLY PRESSURE FORE AND AFT ON THE RUDDER BAR. THE ARMS THAT THE NUT ATTACHES TO ARE MADE OF 15 GAUGE 4130 STEEL. SUBMITTER RECOMMENDS INCREASING SURFACE BEARING AREA AND/OR INSERTION OF BEARING MATERIAL TO DISTRIBUTE LOADS.
INSPECTION FINDING RUDDER TRIM NUT (SHAFT) WEARS OUT. VIBRATION AND PRESSURE ARE CONCENTRATED ON A SMALL AREA OF THIS PARTICULAR PART AND THE PART BEING MADE OF SOFTER METAL WEARS OUT.