Incident Overview

Date: Tuesday 23 March 2010
Aircraft Type: Learjet 35A
Owner/operator: Bluegrass Aviation Partners
Registration Number: N376HA
Location: Jeffersonville-Clark Regional Airport, IN (JVY) – ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: Standing
Status: Substantial, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0
Component Affected: The Learjet 35A’s wing and fuselage.The Learjet 35A’s wing and fuselage.
Category: Other
A Learjet 35A was struck by a Eurofox N829BM aircraft while parked at Jeffersonville-Clark Regional Airport, IN (JVY). The Eurofox owner, without intent to fly, placed a wooden chock and removed the engine cowl. The owner attempted to troubleshoot an engine starting problem on the Eurofox, resulting in the engine starting and subsequent contact with the Learjet’s wing, causing a pivot and subsequent damage.A Learjet 35A was struck by a Eurofox N829BM aircraft while parked at Jeffersonville-Clark Regional Airport, IN (JVY). The Eurofox owner, without intent to fly, placed a wooden chock and removed the engine cowl. The owner attempted to troubleshoot an engine starting problem on the Eurofox, resulting in the engine starting and subsequent contact with the Learjet’s wing, causing a pivot and subsequent damage.

Description

The Learjet 35A sustained damage after being struck by a runway Aeropro Eurofox while parked at Jeffersonville-Clark Regional Airport, IN (JVY). The owner of Eurofox N829BM, with no intent to fly, placed a wooden chock under one of the main landing gear wheels and removed the upper engine cowl. He attempted to trouble shoot an engine starting problem on the Eurofox aircraft. The Eurofox engine started when his right knee contacted the starter switch as he attempted to enter the unoccupied aircraft. The Eurofox’s engine continued to run causing the aircraft to jump the wooden chock and surge forward. The unoccupied aircraft traveled approximately 200 feet until it struck a Learjet 35A, registration N376HA. The Eurofox’s right wing forward leading edge and wing tip struck the Learjet empennage tail section. The impact caused both the Learjet and the Eurofox to pivot in clockwise directions. The eurofox rotated to a position which permitted its composite propeller to disintegrate as it contacted the Learjet’s left outboard wing, aileron, and fuel tank. The Eurofox’s engine ceased operating shortly after contact with the other aircraft. The Eurofox suffered substantial damage to its entire wing structure, wing struts, propeller, forward fuselage, firewall, and engine compartment. The Learjet suffered substantial damage to the empennage tail section, wing structure, and fuselage. There was visible damage to the wing at the wing root and to the fuselage at areas above, below, forward, and aft of the wing root.

Primary Cause

The owner’s actions ? specifically the placement of a chock and removal of the engine cowl ? initiated the incident.The owner’s actions ? specifically the placement of a chock and removal of the engine cowl ? initiated the incident.

Share on:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *