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    NTSB LJ 030804 Probable Cause

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    bombardierwatch
    The NTSB report summarizes an accident involving a Learjet that crashed during approach to Groton, CT airport, killing both pilots. According to witness reports and flight data, the plane entered a tight downwind turn at low altitude and entered clouds, reemerging on base leg at 200 feet. During a left turn back toward the runway, the first officer inadvertently retracted the flaps, causing an aerodynamic stall from which the pilots were unable to recover. The plane struck several homes before crashing in a river. The NTSB determined the probable cause was the first officer's unintentional retraction of flaps during low-altitude maneuvering, leading to an inadvertent stall. Contributing factors

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    NTSB LJ 030804 Probable Cause

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    bombardierwatch
    54 views3 pages
    The NTSB report summarizes an accident involving a Learjet that crashed during approach to Groton, CT airport, killing both pilots. According to witness reports and flight data, the plane entered a tight downwind turn at low altitude and entered clouds, reemerging on base leg at 200 feet. During a left turn back toward the runway, the first officer inadvertently retracted the flaps, causing an aerodynamic stall from which the pilots were unable to recover. The plane struck several homes before crashing in a river. The NTSB determined the probable cause was the first officer's unintentional retraction of flaps during low-altitude maneuvering, leading to an inadvertent stall. Contributing factors

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    The NTSB report summarizes an accident involving a Learjet that crashed during approach to Groton, CT airport, killing both pilots. According to witness reports and flight data, the plane entered a tight downwind turn at low altitude and entered clouds, reemerging on base leg at 200 feet. During a left turn back toward the runway, the first officer inadvertently retracted the flaps, causing an aerodynamic stall from which the pilots were unable to recover. The plane struck several homes before crashing in a river. The NTSB determined the probable cause was the first officer's unintentional retraction of flaps during low-altitude maneuvering, leading to an inadvertent stall. Contributing factors

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    54 views3 pages

    NTSB LJ 030804 Probable Cause

    Uploaded by

    bombardierwatch
    The NTSB report summarizes an accident involving a Learjet that crashed during approach to Groton, CT airport, killing both pilots. According to witness reports and flight data, the plane entered a tight downwind turn at low altitude and entered clouds, reemerging on base leg at 200 feet. During a left turn back toward the runway, the first officer inadvertently retracted the flaps, causing an aerodynamic stall from which the pilots were unable to recover. The plane struck several homes before crashing in a river. The NTSB determined the probable cause was the first officer's unintentional retraction of flaps during low-altitude maneuvering, leading to an inadvertent stall. Contributing factors

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 3

    National Transportation Safety Board Printed on : 1/3/2011 6:02:50 PM

    Washington, DC 20594

    Brief of Accident

    Adopted 07/29/2004

    NYC03FA173
    File No. 15963 08/04/2003 Groton, CT Aircraft Reg No. N135PT Time (Local): 06:39 EDT

    Make/Model: Learjet / 35A Fatal Serious Minor/None


    Engine Make/Model: Garrett / TFE-731-2-2B Crew 2 0 0
    Aircraft Damage: Destroyed Pass 0 0 0
    Number of Engines: 2
    Operating Certificate(s): On-demand Air Taxi
    Type of Flight Operation: Positioning
    Reg. Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation

    Last Depart. Point: Farmingdale, NY Condition of Light: Day


    Destination: Same as Accident/Incident Location Weather Info Src: Weather Observation Facility
    Airport Proximity: Off Airport/Airstrip Basic Weather: Visual Conditions
    Lowest Ceiling: None
    Visibility: 9.00 SM
    Wind Dir/Speed: 150 / 010 Kts
    Temperature (°C): 23
    Precip/Obscuration:

    Pilot-in-Command Age: 33 Flight Time (Hours)

    Certificate(s)/Rating(s) Total All Aircraft: 4300


    Airline Transport; Flight Instructor; Commercial; Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land Last 90 Days: Unk/Nr
    Total Make/Model: Unk/Nr
    Instrument Ratings Total Instrument Time: UnK/Nr
    Airplane

    About 5 miles west of the airport, the flightcrew advised the approach controller that they had visual contact with the airport, canceled
    their IFR clearance, and proceeded under visual flight rules. A witness heard the airplane approach from the east, and observed the
    airplane at a height consistent with the approach minimums for the VOR approach. The airplane continued over the runway, and entered a
    "tight" downwind. The witness lost visual contact with the airplane due to it "skimming" into or behind clouds. The airplane reappeared
    from the clouds at an altitude of about 200 feet above the ground on a base leg. As it overshot the extended centerline for the runway,
    the bank angle increased to about 90-degrees. The airplane then descended out of view. The witness described the weather to the north
    and northeast of the airport, as poor visibility with "scuddy" clouds. According to CVR and FDR data, about 1.5 miles from the runway
    with the first officer at the controls, and south of the extended runway centerline, the airplane turned left, and then back toward the
    right. During that portion of the flight, the first officer stated, "what happens if we break out, pray tell." The captain replied,
    "uh, I don't see it on the left side it's gonna be a problem." When the airplane was about 1/8-mile south of the runway threshold, the
    first officer relinquished the controls to the captain. The captain then made an approximate 60-degree heading change to the right back
    toward the runway. The airplane crossed over the runway at an altitude of 200 feet, and began a left turn towards the center of the
    airport. During the turn, the first officer set the flaps to 20 degrees. The airplane reentered a left downwind, about 1,100 feet south
    of the runway, at an altitude of 400 feet. As the airplane turned onto the base leg, the captain called for "flaps twenty," and the
    first officer replied, "flaps twenty coming in." The CVR recorded the sound of a click, followed by the sound of a trim-in-motion
    clicker. The trim-in-motion audio clicker system would not sound if the flaps were positioned beyond 3 degrees. About 31 seconds
    later, the CVR recorded a sound similar to a stick pusher stall warning tone. The airplane impacted a rooftop of a residential home
    Brief of Accident (Continued)

    NYC03FA173
    File No. 15963 08/04/2003 Groton, CT Aircraft Reg No. N135PT Time (Local): 06:39 EDT

    about 1/4-mile northeast of the approach end of the runway, struck trees, a second residential home, a second line of trees, a third
    residential home, and came to rest in a river. Examination of the wreckage revealed the captain's airspeed indicator reference bug was
    set to 144 knots, and the first officer's was set to 124 knots. The flap selector switch was observed in the "UP" position. A review of
    the Airplane Flight Manual revealed the stall speeds for flap positions of 0 and 8 degrees, and a bank angle of 60 degrees, were 164 and
    148 knots respectfully. There were no charts available to calculate stall speeds for level coordinated turns in excess of 60 degrees.
    The flightcrew was trained to apply procedures set forth by the airplane's Technical Manual, which stated, "…The PF (Pilot Flying) will
    call for flap and gear extension and retraction. The PNF (Pilot not flying) will normally actuate the landing gear. The PNF will
    respond by checking appropriate airspeed, repeating the flap or gear setting called for, and placing the lever in the requested
    position... The PNF should always verify that the requested setting is reasonable and appropriate for the phase of flighty and
    speed/weight combination."
    Brief of Accident (Continued)

    NYC03FA173
    File No. 15963 08/04/2003 Groton, CT Aircraft Reg No. N135PT Time (Local): 06:39 EDT

    Occurrence #1: LOSS OF CONTROL - IN FLIGHT


    Phase of Operation: MANEUVERING

    Findings
    1. (F) WEATHER CONDITION - CLOUDS
    2. (C) LOW ALTITUDE FLIGHT/MANEUVER - PERFORMED - PILOT IN COMMAND
    3. STALL - INADVERTENT - PILOT IN COMMAND
    4. (F) CREW/GROUP COORDINATION - INADEQUATE - FLIGHTCREW
    5. (C) RAISING OF FLAPS - INADVERTENT - COPILOT/SECOND PILOT
    ----------

    Occurrence #2: IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH OBJECT


    Phase of Operation: DESCENT - UNCONTROLLED

    Findings
    6. OBJECT - RESIDENCE
    ----------

    Occurrence #3: IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN/WATER


    Phase of Operation: DESCENT - UNCONTROLLED

    Findings
    7. TERRAIN CONDITION - RESIDENTIAL AREA
    8. TERRAIN CONDITION - WATER

    Findings Legend: (C) = Cause, (F) = Factor


    __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows.
    The first officer's inadvertent retraction of the flaps during the low altitude maneuvering, which resulted in the inadvertent stall and
    subsequent in-flight collision with a residential home. Factors in the accident were the captain's decision to perform a low altitude
    maneuver using excessive bank angle, the flight crews inadequate coordination, and low clouds surrounding the airport.

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