Sunday, February 14, 2021

Runway Excursion: Learjet 55, N135LR; accident occurred February 25, 2020 at Monmouth Executive Airport (KBLM), Farmingdale, New Jersey

 



View of broken nose gear 


 View of runway environment where airplane departed runway 14 

View of top of airplane showing buckling on the top of the fuselage 

 View of right side of fuselage showing buckling 

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board 

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Teterboro, New Jersey

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:

https://registry.faa.gov/N135LR

Location: Farmingdale, NJ
Accident Number: ERA20CA113
Date & Time: 02/25/2020, 2356 EST
Registration: N135LR
Aircraft: Learjet 55
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Runway excursion
Injuries: 5 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter - Non-scheduled

Analysis

The pilot reported that he and the copilot were conducting an instrument approach to the runway in a business jet. He noted that the weather conditions included fog and mist. After touching down about 1,500 ft down the 7,300-ft-long runway, he engaged the thrust reversers and applied the brakes gradually because the runway was "slippery." As the airplane approached the end of the runway, he applied full braking, but the airplane departed the end of the runway and impacted a ditch, which resulted in the forward landing gear breaking and the airplane nosing down. The copilot corroborated the pilot's statement. The fuselage was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The flight crew's failure to stop the airplane on the available runway, which was wet and resulted in the airplane impacting a ditch.

Findings

Personnel issues Aircraft control - Flight crew
Aircraft Landing distance - Capability exceeded
Environmental issues Wet surface - Effect on operation
Environmental issues Sloped/uneven terrain - Effect on operation
Personnel issues Delayed action - Flight crew

Factual Information

History of Flight

Landing Other weather encounter
Landing Runway excursion (Defining event)
Landing Collision during takeoff/land
Landing Landing gear collapse
Landing Nose over/nose down

Pilot Information

Certificate: Airline Transport
Age: 68, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 4-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 1 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 11/19/2019
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 02/13/2020
Flight Time:   18288 hours (Total, all aircraft), 2909.8 hours (Total, this make and model), 8713 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft)

Co-Pilot Information

Certificate: Airline Transport
Age: 63, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 4-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present:Yes 
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed:No 
Medical Certification: Class 1 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 11/19/2019
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 02/13/2020
Flight Time:  (Estimated) 14759 hours (Total, all aircraft), 1978.9 hours (Total, this make and model), 104.3 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 35.6 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 1.5 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Learjet
Registration:N135LR 
Model/Series: 55 Undesignated
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture:
Amateur Built:No 
Airworthiness Certificate: Transport
Serial Number: 068
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 8
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 11/18/2019, Continuous Airworthiness
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 21500 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 2 Turbo Fan
Airframe Total Time: 12792.3 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Garret
ELT: Installed
Engine Model/Series: TFG 731-3AR-2
Registered Owner: Expectra Aviation Inc
Rated Power: 3800 lbs
Operator: NORTHWEST AIRCRAFT RENTAL INC
Operating Certificate(s) Held: On-demand Air Taxi (135)
Operator Does Business As: Upper Jets
Operator Designator Code: GLRA

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Instrument Conditions
Condition of Light: Night/Dark
Observation Facility, Elevation: BLM, 153 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 2356 EST
Direction from Accident Site: 0°
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Visibility:  6 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 600 ft agl
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 4 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 120°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 29.85 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 8°C / 8°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: Light - Showers - Rain
Departure Point: Richmond, VA (RIC)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR
Destination: Farmingdale, NJ (BLM)
Type of Clearance: IFR
Departure Time: 2300 EST
Type of Airspace: Class E

Airport Information

Airport: Monmouth Executive (BLM)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 153 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Wet
Runway Used: 14
IFR Approach: RNAV
Runway Length/Width: 7345 ft / 85 ft
VFR Approach/Landing:

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 2 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 3 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 5 None
Latitude, Longitude:  40.186667, -74.124444 (est)









3 comments:

  1. Proper procedure when using anti-skid is to stand on them and let the system modulate the braking for maximum braking effect. Also, a 7500 foot runway, landing 1500 feet down the runway, left 6000 feet to stop. Just using the reversers would have been enough, not to mention the brakes. Something doesn't add up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And blaming it on the weather. I don't think the weather is type rated in the Learjet

      Delete
  2. Weather is no excuse;
    Pilot did not allow for the conditions.

    ReplyDelete