On June 9 , 1996 Eastwind Airlines Flight 517 , a Boeing 737-2H5 experienced a reported loss of rudder control while on approach to Richmond from Trenton . There was one minor injury to a flight attendant and no damage to the airplane as a result of the incident . At the time of the event the airplane 's airspeed was about 250 knots and at 4,000 feet MSL . On approach the crew experienced unexpected movement of the rudder causing the airplane rolling to the right . The crew applied opposite rudder to keep the plane from rolling over . Thirty-seconds later the plane righted itself back to normal flight . As the crew performed the emergency checklist the plane again rolled over to the right . Another thirty-seconds went by before the plane snapped back to level . The crew declared an emergency and landed safely in Richmond . Investigation of this incident would later help solve two other mysterious accidents : United Airlines Flight 585 and USAir Flight 427
USAir Flight 427
USAir Flight 427
Eastwind Airlines