Incident Overview

Date: Tuesday 16 April 2019
Aircraft Type: Bombardier BD-700-1A11 Global 5000
Owner/operator: Luftwaffe
Registration Number: 14+01
Location: Berlin-Sch”nefeld Airport (SXF/EDDB) – ÿ Germany
Phase of Flight: Take off
Status: Substantial, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants:
Component Affected: The Global 5000 jet’s Roll Control Input-Modules (RCIMs).The Global 5000 jet’s Roll Control Input-Modules (RCIMs).
Category: Accident
On April 16, 2019, a Global 5000 jet experienced a critical flight control reversal during a Functional Check Flight at Berlin-Sch”nefeld Airport, Germany. Due to a wrongful installation of the torque tube assembly, the aircraft’s control system reversed, resulting in steep turns and exposure to extreme forces. The crew immediately initiated an emergency landing, and the aircraft was subsequently damaged beyond repair.On April 16, 2019, a Global 5000 jet experienced a critical flight control reversal during a Functional Check Flight at Berlin-Sch”nefeld Airport, Germany. Due to a wrongful installation of the torque tube assembly, the aircraft’s control system reversed, resulting in steep turns and exposure to extreme forces. The crew immediately initiated an emergency landing, and the aircraft was subsequently damaged beyond repair.

Description

The Global 5000 jet, attached to the Executive Transport Wing of the German Air Force (named Flugbereitschaft des Bundesministeriums der Verteidigung) had undergone heavy maintenance at Berlin-Sch”nefeld Airport, Germany. The torque tube assembly of the aircraft’s controls had been wrongly installed, causing a flight control reversal. The aircraft departed Sch”nefeld Airport on a Functional Check Flight and the flight crew soon noticed flight control problems. The aircraft entered steep turns and was exposed to forces of up to +5G. The crew managed to return to Sch”nefeld Airport where an emergency landing was carried out. In September 2019 it was announced that the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The Global 5000 accident, that took place at Berlin-Sch”nefeld on April 16, 2019, was the result of a series of omissions and errors that originated in different core areas, and involved many people either directly or indirectly. The technical error that occurred during the installation and adjustment procedure of the RCIMs [Roll Control Input-Modules] represents the event triggering the accident. The system design further enabled this failure, which allowed the RCIMs to be installed and adjusted in such a manner that the MFS [multi-function spoilers] functioned opposite of the corresponding input, and generated no error messages on the EICAS or the PMAT. Since the maintenance crew relied solely upon the EICAS warnings and the results given by the PMAT, the error remained undetected in the tests following the installation.

Source of Information

https://www.focus.de/politik/deutschland/kanzlerjet-hat-totalschaden-bundeswehr-jet-wird-nach-bruchlandung-vom-april-ausgemustert_id_11102271.html, https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/notlandung-eines-regierungsfliegers-totalschaden-am-kanzler-jet-a-1284997.htmlhttps://www.focus.de/politik/deutschland/kanzlerjet-hat-totalschaden-bundeswehr-jet-wird-nach-bruchlandung-vom-april-ausgemustert_id_11102271.html, https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/notlandung-eines-regierungsfliegers-totalschaden-am-kanzler-jet-a-1284997.html

Primary Cause

Incorrect installation and adjustment of the Roll Control Input-Modules (RCIMs) resulted in a system design that enabled the MFS to function opposite the intended input, leading to an error message and undetected failure.Incorrect installation and adjustment of the Roll Control Input-Modules (RCIMs) resulted in a system design that enabled the MFS to function opposite the intended input, leading to an error message and undetected failure.

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