Incident Overview
Date: Monday 11 January 1988
Aircraft Type: Shorts 330-200
Owner/operator: Fairflight
Registration Number: G-BHWT
Location: Southend Municipal Airport (SEN) –
ÿ United Kingdom
Phase of Flight: Taxi
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Component Affected: Emergency brake accumulatorEmergency brake accumulator
Category: Accident
A flight of Fairflight Shorts 330 experienced a sudden nosegear steering failure during taxiing to Biggin Hill. A collision with a Vickers Viscount resulted from an uncommanded left turn. Corrosion in the emergency brake accumulator led to nitrogen ingress into the hydraulic system, causing the failure.A flight of Fairflight Shorts 330 experienced a sudden nosegear steering failure during taxiing to Biggin Hill. A collision with a Vickers Viscount resulted from an uncommanded left turn. Corrosion in the emergency brake accumulator led to nitrogen ingress into the hydraulic system, causing the failure.
Description
Fairflight Shorts 330 G-BHWT had a history of hydraulic problems and was prepared for a flight to Biggin Hill for maintenance. The aircraft was taxiing to the runway when suddenly the nosegear steering failed. The aircraft entered an uncommanded left turn and collided with a stationary Vickers Viscount aircraft (G-APIM). PROBABLE CAUSE: Corrosion within the emergency brake accumulator had allowed nitrogen to enter the main hydraulic system. In the past, the aircraft had been parked in the open for a considerable time without servicing.
Primary Cause
Corrosion within the emergency brake accumulator allowed nitrogen to enter the main hydraulic system.Corrosion within the emergency brake accumulator allowed nitrogen to enter the main hydraulic system.Share on:
