The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating an apparent flight control problem that occurred on a Boeing 767 yesterday. On March 27, 2001, American Airlines flight 48 from Dallas, Texas, a Boeing 767-300, experienced pitch control difficulties while on approach to landing at Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport (CDG).

The airplane was descending through 6,000 feet.  The flight crew indicated that the airplane did not respond as expected to control column inputs, and that horizontal stabilizer trim was used for pitch control. The flight landed at approximately 1132 local time (0932 Z). There were no injuries to the 124 passengers and 13 crew aboard. The French Bureau Enquetes Accidents (BEA) has delegated the investigation of the incident to the NTSB.

The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR) were removed and initially read out by the BEA's investigative authorities.  The BEA transferred preliminary data electronically to the NTSB yesterday.  The FDR and CVR have been sent to the NTSB's laboratories in Washington for further examination. The CVR contained no useful information because sounds recorded at the time of the event were overwritten on the 30-minute tape.

Interviews with the flight crew are being coordinated.  NTSB, Boeing, and American Airlines specialists are currently examining the airplane in Paris. Initial examination of stabilizer components, including the power control units, pushrods, bellcranks and shear rivets revealed no discrepancies. Further testing and examinations are being planned.