FLUSHING, NY, USA
N416US
BOEING 737-400
AS THE FIRST OFFICER BEGAN THE TAKEOFF HE FELT THE AIRPLANE DRIFT RIGHT. THE CAPT NOTICED THE DRIFT ALSO & USED NOSEWHEEL TILLER TO HELP STEER. THE CREW THEN HEARD A 'BANG' AND A CONTINUAL RUMBLING NOISE. THE CAPT THEN TOOK OVER & REJECTED THE TAKEOFF BUT DID NOT STOP THE AIRPLANE BEFORE RUNNING OFF THE END OF THE RWY AND COLLIDING WITH A WOODEN APPROACH LIGHTING PIER. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST PARTIALLY SUBMERGED IN WATER. THE RUDDER TRIM POSITION WAS FOUND TO BE 16 DEG, OR FULL, LEFT DEFLECTION OF RUDDER. THE DFDR RECORDED THIS POSITION FROM ENGINE START AT THE GATE. (NTSB/AAR-90/03)
THE CAPTAIN'S FAILURE TO EXERCISE HIS COMMAND AUTHORITY IN A TIMELY MANNER TO REJECT THE TAKEOFF OR TAKE SUFFICIENT CONTROL TO CONTINUE THE TAKEOFF, WHICH WAS INITIATED WITH A MISTRIMMED RUDDER. ALSO CAUSAL WAS THE CAPTAIN'S FAILURE TO DETECT THE MISTRIMMED RUDDER BEFORE THE TAKEOFF WAS ATTEMPTED.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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