Incident Overview

Date: Tuesday 17 March 2009
Aircraft Type: Learjet 55
Owner/operator: Sunwest Aviation Ltd.
Registration Number: C-GCIL
Location: Casper/Natrona County International Airport, WY – ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: Take off
Status: Substantial
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4
Component Affected: Left Main Landing GearLeft Main Landing Gear
Investigating Agency: NTSBNTSB
Category: Accident
On October 26, 2023, a flight experienced a significant incident involving an aborted takeoff due to suspected hot brakes. The flight crew initially reported smoke emanating from the aircraft, leading to an immediate abort of takeoff. Subsequent observations revealed a loud bang and a rapid yaw to the right, prompting immediate evacuation and the discovery of a fire near the left main landing gear. Examination confirmed significant damage to the left main landing gear and a puncture in the fuselage, requiring immediate action. The incident highlights a failure to adhere to manufacturer’s procedures following a rejected takeoff, resulting in the aircraft exceeding its maximum brake energy weight. The flight crew’s actions contributed to the accident.On October 26, 2023, a flight experienced a significant incident involving an aborted takeoff due to suspected hot brakes. The flight crew initially reported smoke emanating from the aircraft, leading to an immediate abort of takeoff. Subsequent observations revealed a loud bang and a rapid yaw to the right, prompting immediate evacuation and the discovery of a fire near the left main landing gear. Examination confirmed significant damage to the left main landing gear and a puncture in the fuselage, requiring immediate action. The incident highlights a failure to adhere to manufacturer’s procedures following a rejected takeoff, resulting in the aircraft exceeding its maximum brake energy weight. The flight crew’s actions contributed to the accident.

Description

The flight crew reported that during their initial takeoff the air traffic control tower controller transmitted that he thought he saw smoke originating from the airplane. The flight crew aborted the takeoff as the airplane was accelerating through 80 knots. Upon exiting the runway, the flight crew verified normal operation of both engines. The captain reported that he had no reason to suspect hot brakes due to minimal use and taxied back to the active runway where the flight was subsequently cleared for takeoff. During the second takeoff, which was initiated about 5 minutes and 43 seconds after the initial rejected takeoff, the flight crew heard and felt a loud bang followed by a sudden yaw to the right; the flight crew immediately aborted the takeoff. Shortly after, the flight crew heard a second loud bang, followed by a more severe yaw to the right. The flight crew slowed the airplane and exited onto a taxiway at the end of the runway. Upon exiting the airplane, the captain observed a fire near the left main landing gear and immediately evacuated the airplane. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the left main landing gear exhibited fire damage and that the tire was blown. A punctured hole within the right side of the fuselage was observed just aft of the cockpit. The flight crew reported that at the time of the accident the airplane weighed 20,772 pounds. Review of emergency procedures within the aircraft flight manual revealed that a high energy stop inspection of the aircraft was required following the initial rejected takeoff due to the aircraft exceeding the maximum brake energy weight at the time of the initial rejected takeoff. The maximum brake energy weight was calculated to be 20,300 pounds. Probable Cause: The flight crew’s failure to follow the manufacturer?s aircraft flight manual emergency procedures following a rejected takeoff that required a high energy stop inspection. Contributing to the accident was the flight’s exceedence of the aircraft’s maximum brake energy weight.

Primary Cause

Failure to follow manufacturer’s aircraft flight manual emergency procedures following a rejected takeoff.Failure to follow manufacturer’s aircraft flight manual emergency procedures following a rejected takeoff.

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