Incident Overview

Date: Friday 4 January 2002
Aircraft Type: Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604
Owner/operator: Epps Air Service
Registration Number: N90AG
Location: Birmingham International Airport (BHX) – ÿ United Kingdom
Phase of Flight: Take off
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 5
Component Affected: Aircraft WingsAircraft Wings
Investigating Agency: AAIBAAIB
Category: Accident
On July 26, 2000, a catastrophic accident occurred involving the Challenger N90AG aircraft during a flight from Birmingham, UK to Bangor. The aircraft was cleared for taxi and prepared for takeoff. During taxi, the crew completed their pre-flight checks, confirming control system readiness and anti-ice requirements. After takeoff, the aircraft was cleared for a surface wind of 140ø/8 kt. The takeoff was normal until lift-off, where rotation was initiated at approximately 146 kt. The aircraft rapidly banked to the left, increasing the angle to 50 degrees, and subsequently diverged to the left with a 10-degree heading change. A stick-shaker operation was initiated, and a full right aileron and full right rudder was applied to maintain the bank angle. The left winglet contacted the runway shoulder, causing a structural separation of the forward fuselage, resulting in a reverse-diving, inverted landing. Fuel released from ruptured tanks ignited, leading to a fire and subsequent wreckage slide. The last recorded aircraft attitude was approximately 111 degrees left bank and 13 degrees nose-down pitch.On July 26, 2000, a catastrophic accident occurred involving the Challenger N90AG aircraft during a flight from Birmingham, UK to Bangor. The aircraft was cleared for taxi and prepared for takeoff. During taxi, the crew completed their pre-flight checks, confirming control system readiness and anti-ice requirements. After takeoff, the aircraft was cleared for a surface wind of 140ø/8 kt. The takeoff was normal until lift-off, where rotation was initiated at approximately 146 kt. The aircraft rapidly banked to the left, increasing the angle to 50 degrees, and subsequently diverged to the left with a 10-degree heading change. A stick-shaker operation was initiated, and a full right aileron and full right rudder was applied to maintain the bank angle. The left winglet contacted the runway shoulder, causing a structural separation of the forward fuselage, resulting in a reverse-diving, inverted landing. Fuel released from ruptured tanks ignited, leading to a fire and subsequent wreckage slide. The last recorded aircraft attitude was approximately 111 degrees left bank and 13 degrees nose-down pitch.

Description

Challenger N90AG was prepared for a flight from Birmingham, UK to Bangor. The flight was cleared to taxi at 12:01 hrs. The captain was pilot-non-flying and was seated in the right cockpit seat. During taxi, the crew completed their normal Before Takeoff Checks; these included confirmation that the control checks had been completed and that anti-ice might be required immediately after takeoff. Flap 20 had been selected for takeoff and the following speeds had been calculated and briefed by the pilots: V1 137 kt; VR 140 kt; V2 147 kt. By 12:06, the aircraft was cleared to line up on runway 15. At 12:07 hrs, N90AG was cleared for takeoff with a surface wind of 140ø/8 kt. Takeoff appeared normal up to lift-off. Rotation was started at about 146 kt. Lift-off occurred 2 seconds later, at about 153 kt and with a pitch attitude of about 8 degrees nose-up. Immediately after lift-off, the aircraft started to bank to the left. The rate of bank increased rapidly and 2 seconds after lift-off the bank angle had reached 50 degrees. At that point, the aircraft heading had diverged about 10 degrees to the left. Opposite aileron, followed closely by right rudder, was applied as the aircraft started banking; full right aileron and full right rudder had been applied within 1 second and were maintained. As the bank angle continued to increase, progressively more aircraft nose-up elevator was applied. Stick-shaker operation initiated 3.5 seconds after lift-off. The left winglet contacted the runway shoulder, the outboard part of the left wing detached and the aircraft struck the ground inverted, structurally separating the forward fuselage. Fuel released from ruptured tanks ignited and the wreckage slid to a halt on fire. The last recorded aircraft attitude was approximately 111 degrees left bank and 13 degrees nose-down pitch. CAUSAL FACTORS: “1. The crew did not ensure that N90AG’s wings were clear of frost prior to takeoff.; 2. Reduction of the wing stall angle of attack, due to the surface roughness associated with frost contamination, to below that at which the stall protection system was effective.; 3. Possible impairment of crew performance by the combined effects of a non-prescription drug, jet-lag and fatigue.”

Source of Information

http://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/CL60,_Birmingham_UK,_2002http://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/CL60,_Birmingham_UK,_2002

Primary Cause

1. The crew did not ensure that N90AG’s wings were clear of frost prior to takeoff.; 2. Reduction of the wing stall angle of attack, due to the surface roughness associated with frost contamination, to below that at which the stall protection system was effective.1. The crew did not ensure that N90AG’s wings were clear of frost prior to takeoff.; 2. Reduction of the wing stall angle of attack, due to the surface roughness associated with frost contamination, to below that at which the stall protection system was effective.

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