The UK government’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has published a report detailing a “serious incident” involving a West Atlantic ATR 72-202 aircraft that experienced a rudder control restriction during its landing at Belfast International Airport on March 7, 2023.
During the flare to land, the co-pilot, acting as the pilot flying (PF), found the rudder unusually stiff and difficult to move. The captain promptly took control, using the nosewheel steering for directional control on the runway.
An inspection the following day revealed that the rudder was nearly immovable, both from the cockpit's rudder pedals and when physically pressed on the rudder externally. The investigation uncovered several faults within the rudder control system, with the primary cause being corrosion-related degradation of the steel rudder rear quadrant support bearings.
The AAIB also noted that the bearings’ sealed nature and their placement made visual inspection impossible. Moisture ingress around the bearings likely accelerated their deterioration. The report also suggested that the rudder damper’s installation may have exacerbated the stiffness to a lesser extent.
Furthermore, a service bulletin that recommended replacing the flight control bearings with corrosion-resistant stainless-steel ones had not been implemented on the aircraft. In response to the findings, West Atlantic took immediate steps to ensure the airworthiness of its ATR fleet, while the manufacturer pledged to implement safety measures addressing the issues identified during the investigation.