Incident Overview

Date: Monday 29 November 2004
Aircraft Type: Gulfstream Aerospace G-IV
Owner/operator: Nji, Inc.
Registration Number: N420QS
Location: Eagle, Colorado – ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: Unknown
Status: Substantial
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3
Component Affected: Nose wheel steering servo valve unitNose wheel steering servo valve unit
Investigating Agency: NTSBNTSB
Category: Accident
An aircraft incident occurred following touchdown on runway 25. The aircraft experienced an uncommanded rightward divergence, leading to a significant slide and impact with the terrain. The nose landing gear was folded aft, and the aircraft’s nose and right wing tip struck the ground. The incident resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft’s fuselage and wing. The incident was attributed to foreign material contamination originating from a Teflon lacing tape, which caused a hard over condition, potentially leading to a torque imbalance and subsequent jet spooling. The contamination was identified as moisture, rust, and a powdery substance, and was addressed through cleaning, reassembly, and testing.An aircraft incident occurred following touchdown on runway 25. The aircraft experienced an uncommanded rightward divergence, leading to a significant slide and impact with the terrain. The nose landing gear was folded aft, and the aircraft’s nose and right wing tip struck the ground. The incident resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft’s fuselage and wing. The incident was attributed to foreign material contamination originating from a Teflon lacing tape, which caused a hard over condition, potentially leading to a torque imbalance and subsequent jet spooling. The contamination was identified as moisture, rust, and a powdery substance, and was addressed through cleaning, reassembly, and testing.

Description

According to the captain, the airplane touched down on runway 25 at 1,000 feet. Shortly after the nose wheel touched down, the aircraft experienced an uncommanded divergence to the right. The captain was unable to correct for the divergence. Approximately 2,800 feet down the runway, skid/scuff marks from the airplane’s nose landing gear tires appear as the airplane begins to veer to the right. Approximately 3,900 feet, the airplane departed the right side of the runway. The nose landing gear folded aft, and the airplane’s nose and right wing tip struck the terrain. The airplane continued to slide, coming to a stop on the edge of the runway at 4,500 feet. The airplane’s forward fuselage and outboard right wing were substantially damaged. EGE AWOS reported calm wind. Several tests of the nose wheel steering servo valve unit revealed that it was commanding a full flow output, resulting in a “hard over,” condition. During the disassembly of the servo valve, a small piece of Teflon lacing tape was located under the torque motor cover seal. Moisture, rust and a white powdery substance, was observed under the cover, on the torque motor frame, magnets, and in the armature air gaps. The unit was cleaned, reassembled and installed back on the test stand. A room temperature test and cold soak test was completed. No further “hard over” conditions were detected. According to Parker, the hard over condition is consistent with the foreign object contamination. The contamination would permit accumulation of moisture, which could freeze and exert torque on the torque motor armature. This condition would offset the torque balance and cause the first stage jet to move, commanding the second stage spool into a hard over (P to C2) condition. Probable Cause: nose wheel steering system failure due to foreign material substance contamination.

Primary Cause

Foreign material substance contamination of the nose wheel steering servo valve unit, specifically originating from a Teflon lacing tape.Foreign material substance contamination of the nose wheel steering servo valve unit, specifically originating from a Teflon lacing tape.

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