Incident Overview

Date: Saturday 2 February 2002
Aircraft Type: Learjet C-21A (Learjet 35A)
Owner/operator: United States Air Force – USAF
Registration Number: 84-0097
Location: Rapid City-Ellsworth AFB, SD (RCA) – ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: Initial climb
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2
Component Affected: Aircraft ? Pacer 43, Left Wing, Left Wing Tip Tank, Right Wing, Right Wing Tip TankAircraft ? Pacer 43, Left Wing, Left Wing Tip Tank, Right Wing, Right Wing Tip Tank
Category: Accident
A Pacer 43 aircraft, conducting pattern work at Ellsworth AFB, SD, experienced a significant fuel imbalance during a simulated single-engine approach. An unmonitored fuel transfer from the right wing to the left resulted in a substantial imbalance, leading to a rapid and uncontrolled roll to the left during the flare and subsequent climb. The aircraft ultimately impacted the ground in a grassy field.A Pacer 43 aircraft, conducting pattern work at Ellsworth AFB, SD, experienced a significant fuel imbalance during a simulated single-engine approach. An unmonitored fuel transfer from the right wing to the left resulted in a substantial imbalance, leading to a rapid and uncontrolled roll to the left during the flare and subsequent climb. The aircraft ultimately impacted the ground in a grassy field.

Description

The mishap aircraft, call sign Pacer 43, was conducting pattern work operations during an off-station training mission at Ellsworth AFB, SD (RCA). Shortly before impact, the mishap crew was conducting a simulated single-engine approach to runway 31 at Ellsworth AFB. Subsequent analysis showed that there was a significantly greater amount of fuel in the left wing and left wing tip tank than the right. The gross fuel imbalance resulted from an unmonitored transfer of fuel from the right wing and right wing tip tank to the left that was initiated by the crew approximately nine and one-half minutes before impact. As the aircraft approached the point when it would normally transition to a flare, it leveled off and began a climbing turn to the west, toward the tower. It did not touch down prior to the turn, but veered left immediately during the flare, and then rolled back to wings level momentarily as it climbed. The heavier left wing, and application of power to the right engine for the go-around, caused the aircraft to roll back into a steeper left turn, stayed in a climbing left turn with the bank continuing to increase until il rolled through more than 90 degrees of bank. As the aircraft reached the highest point of the climb (approximately 450 feet), the bank angle was more than 90 degrees, and perhaps slightly inverted as the nose dropped and the aircraft began to descend. The aircraft impacted the ground in a grassy field. The accident investigation board president found clear and convincing evidence that the primary cause of the mishap was the crew’s failure to follow flight manual procedures for fuel transfer. As a result, the mishap aircraft experienced a fuel imbalance significant enough to cause the aircraft to enter an unsafe roll to the left from which the pilot was not able to recover.

Source of Information

http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/usafserials.htmlhttp://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/usafserials.html

Primary Cause

Failure to follow flight manual procedures for fuel transfer.Failure to follow flight manual procedures for fuel transfer.

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