N928L

On April 30, 1998, at 1040 cdt, N928L, a McDonnell Douglas DC9-34, being operated as Trans World Airlines flight number 732, from Saint Louis, Missouri to Toronto, Canada, experienced a flight control malfunction after takeoff. The flight declared an emergency and returned to Saint Louis. There was no damage to the aircraft and there were no injuries to the crew of 5 or 39 passengers. The flight was on an IFR flight plan and visual meteorological conditions prevailed.

The Captain's report states: "After takeoff the aircraft began to yaw and roll in a cyclic fashion left and right. I switched the yaw damper off and on to ensure that the yaw damper was on. Yaw and roll continued and appeared to increase in its yaw amplitude as the airspeed increased... I declared an 'Emergency' and requested an immediate return for a landing with the emergency equipment standing by... The landing was made in a normal fashion without damage to the aircraft or injury to anyone on board. Total air time was 6 minutes." The Captain's full statement is an attachment to this factual report.

The aircraft was a DC-9-34, S/N 48124. The Stability Augmentation Computer, Part 2587826-3, S/N 0270890 was inspected at the TWA Maintenance Facility in Kansas City, Kansas on May 27, 1998. Present at the inspection were personnel from TWA, FAA, NTSB, and Honeywell. See attached "Inspection Sign in Sheet".

The inspection determined that the yaw rate gyro of the Stab Aug Computer had been installed in a reverse position that was 180 degrees opposite from the correct position. It was further determined that there is a correct "red alignment mark" and the gyro was not aligned with the red mark. There is a keyway; however, in this circumstance the pin was flush allowing the gyro to be installed in an incorrect manner.