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NTSB Board MeetingAA Flight 587NTSB Board MeetingAA Flight 587
Rudder Control SystemRudder Control System
Steven Magladry Steven Magladry
NTSB Board Meeting AA Flight 587
NTSB Board Meeting AA Flight 587
Rudder ControlsRudder Controls
Rudder Control Characteristics • Pedal Travel• Pedal Force• Airplane Response
Rudder Control Sensitivity• A300-600 – High sensitivity at
accident airspeed
Rudder Control Characteristics • Pedal Travel• Pedal Force• Airplane Response
Rudder Control Sensitivity• A300-600 – High sensitivity at
accident airspeed
NTSB Board Meeting AA Flight 587
NTSB Board Meeting AA Flight 587
Changes to Rudder Control System
Changes to Rudder Control System
A300-B2B4 preceded the A300-600
• Control force change
• Reduced pedal forces
• Rudder limiter design change
• Reduced pedal travel and force to reach full pedal travel
A300-B2B4 preceded the A300-600
• Control force change
• Reduced pedal forces
• Rudder limiter design change
• Reduced pedal travel and force to reach full pedal travel
Change to A300 Rudder Limiter System
High Speed Characteristics
Change to A300 Rudder Limiter System
High Speed Characteristics
Pedal ForcePedal Force
PredecessorA300-B2B4PredecessorA300-B2B4
CurrentA300-600Current
A300-600
125 pounds125 pounds
32 pounds32 pounds
PredecessorA300-B2B4PredecessorA300-B2B4
CurrentA300-600Current
A300-600
4 inches4 inches
1.2 inches1.2 inches
Pedal TravelPedal Travel
A300-B2B4 & -600 Pedal Sensitivity Comparison
80 100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240 260 280 300 320
0.000
0.005
0.010
0.015
0.020
0.025
0.030
0.035
A300-600 A300B2/B4
Ped
al S
en
siti
vit
y,
g’s
per
pou
nd
Calibrated Airspeed, Knots
Accident Airspeed
NTSB Board Meeting AA Flight 587
NTSB Board Meeting AA Flight 587
High Speed Rudder Characteristics
High Speed Rudder Characteristics
Compared to other airplanes:
• A300-600 has lightest pedal forces.
• A300-600 has among the shortest pedal travel.
Rudder sensitivity of A300-600 is a concern.
Compared to other airplanes:
• A300-600 has lightest pedal forces.
• A300-600 has among the shortest pedal travel.
Rudder sensitivity of A300-600 is a concern.
NTSB Board Meeting AA Flight 587
NTSB Board Meeting AA Flight 587
Rudder Control Certification Standards
Rudder Control Certification Standards
• No quantitative standards
• Staff proposes safety recommendations
• No quantitative standards
• Staff proposes safety recommendations
National Transportation Safety BoardNational Transportation Safety Board
American Airlines Flight 587Belle Harbor, New YorkNovember 12, 2001
NTSB Board MeetingOctober 26, 2004
American Airlines Flight 587Belle Harbor, New YorkNovember 12, 2001
NTSB Board MeetingOctober 26, 2004
