At about 14:51 EDT, a Learjet 24B suffered a control surface failure shortly after takeoff from Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, but the aircraft returned and landed without further incident. A wing flap hinge fitting separated, which resulted in the wing flap binding the adjacent aileron. Shortly after takeoff the pilot noticed the aircraft was in a steep right bank and the copilot was having trouble with the controls. He took control of the aircraft and found that the aircraft continued to roll to the right even with him holding extreme forces on the control wheel to roll the aircraft back to the left. He reduced left engine power and increased right engine power, which resulted in a decreased right bank angle. Postflight examination showed the right wing flap inboard hinge fitting had separated from the wing flap. The wing flap had shifted outboard and the outboard edge of the flap had contacted the inboard edge of the right aileron, forcing it upward and binding it in that position.
Apr. 17, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. / Learjet 24B
At about 14:51 EDT, a Learjet 24B suffered a control surface failure shortly after takeoff from Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, but the aircraft returned and landed without further incident. A wing flap hinge fitting separated, which resulted in the wing flap binding the adjacent aileron. Shortly after takeoff the pilot noticed the aircraft was in a steep right bank and the copilot was having trouble with the controls. He took control of the aircraft and found that the aircraft continued to roll to the right even with him holding extreme forces on the control wheel to roll the aircraft back to the left. He reduced left engine power and increased right engine power, which resulted in a dec...
Key Takeaways:
- A Learjet 24B experienced a control surface failure shortly after takeoff from Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport.
- The failure involved a wing flap hinge separating, causing the flap to shift and bind the adjacent aileron, leading to an uncontrollable right roll.
- The pilot successfully counteracted the control issue by using differential engine thrust (reducing left, increasing right power).
- The aircraft safely returned and landed without further incident despite the significant control surface malfunction.
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