On November 6, 2019, the crew of a Republic Airways Embraer EMB-175 regional jet operating a schedule passenger flight under FAR Part 121 declared an emergency shortly after takeoff from the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta (Ga.) International Airport. The crew reported a pitch-trim runaway and difficulty controlling the aircraft. Among other details, the jet climbed to around 14,000 feet in approximately four minutes before the crew could get the airplane under control and return. Additional pitch-trim excursions occurred before the airplane safely landed with no injuries, including the crew reporting to ATC that they were stalling as they attempted to line up for a landing.
Based on preliminary findings from its ongoing investigation of the incident, the NTSB has issued 10 safety recommendations to address safety issues identified in the investigation. Six of the recommendations were directed to the National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil (ANAC) and four to the FAA. The recommendations are designed to address areas of concern including wire chafing, application of Embraer service bulletins relating to the pitch trim switch and potential limitations in checklist memory items for pilots to address unintended operation of the pitch trim system.
