Safety Topics

Two events are described, both involving elevators but otherwise differing greatly in type of aircraft and nature of accident or incident. The first involves an HS 748 which was nearing the end of a flight to Newcastle from Dublin and was established on the localiser for runway 07, approximately 20 n miles out. As it passed through flight level 065 at a speed of approximately 200 knots, the pilot was easing forward on the control column when a sharp buffet was felt coincident with a slight nose pitch up. With no further abnormal events occurring, the aircraft continued normally and performed an unremarkable landing, the crew attributing the event to local clear air turbulence although conditions had been generally stable throughout the flight.