Northwest Airlines Flight 85
N661US, the aircraft involved in the incident, seen in 1999 | |
| Incident | |
|---|---|
| Date | October 9, 2002 |
| Summary | Rudder hardover due to metal fatigue |
| Site | |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Boeing 747-451 |
| Operator | Northwest Airlines |
| IATA flight No. | NW85 |
| ICAO flight No. | NWA85 |
| Call sign | NORTHWEST 85 |
| Registration | N661US |
| Flight origin | Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, Detroit, Michigan, United States |
| Destination | Tokyo Narita Airport, Narita, Chiba, Japan |
| Occupants | 404 |
| Passengers | 386 |
| Crew | 18 |
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Survivors | 404 |
Northwest Airlines Flight 85 was a scheduled international passenger flight from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport in the United States to Narita International Airport in Japan. On October 9, 2002, while over the Bering Sea, the Boeing 747-400 experienced a lower rudder hardover event, which occurs when an aircraft's rudder deflects to its travel limit without crew input. The 747's hardover gave full left lower rudder, requiring the pilots to use full right upper rudder and right aileron to maintain attitude and course.
The flight diverted to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. No passengers or crew were injured, but the incident resulted in an airworthiness directive to prevent the possibility of a future accident.