Landing overruns substantially damaged two Gulfstream IVs and a Falcon 20 in the period between November 29 and December 5. These accidents did not cause any injuries, but they were serious enough to warrant NTSB investigation and they happened around the same time that 23 people were killed in four separate accidents involving corporate jets and a King Air.
Hydroplaning might have been a factor in the landing accident of a Falcon 20 on December 5. N82TN was substantially damaged when it ran off the end of Runway 18 at Pine Bluff Municipal Airport, Ark. The jet was registered to and operated by Inland Paperboard and Packaging of Austin, Texas. The two pilots and two passengers were not injured. IMC prevailed, and an IFR flight plan was filed for the Part 91 flight.
During the landing roll, the captain applied both brakes and deployed the speed brakes, but in a few moments realized the airplane was not slowing down. The first officer applied brakes but did not notice any braking action. The airplane went off the end of the runway into the overrun area, coming to rest about 200 feet beyond the end of the pavement. This airplane was not equipped with thrust reversers. It was equipped with an emergency drag chute, but the NTSB said it was not deployed.
Examination of the airplane revealed the forward pressure bulkhead was damaged and the nose landing gear was folded aft into the fuselage structure. The first evidence of touchdown by the airplane was seen 2,450 feet from the beginning of the runway. No evidence of braking action was seen through- out the remaining portion of the runway. The captain noticed standing water on the runway during the landing roll.
At about the time of the accident, the airport’s AWOS reported wind from 110 degrees at four knots, visibility 1.5 statute miles, sky condition overcast at 500 feet, rain and mist, temperature 52 degrees F and dew point 50 degrees F.
Reverser, Spoiler Failure Asserted
The pilots of a UK-registered Gulfstream IV that slid off Runway 24 after landing at Teterboro Airport December 1 told the NTSB they could not get the thrust reversers or spoilers to deploy. They estimated that they touched down in the first 1,000 feet of the runway, but the NTSB said the airplane touched down within the first 2,000 feet and “slightly right” of the centerline.
With about 3,000 feet of runway remaining, the captain activated the emergency braking system, and the copilot extended the speed brakes. The captain was unable to control the airplane after activation of the emergency braking system, and the twinjet departed the right side of the runway about 500 feet before the end.
Skid marks could be seen starting at about 1,900 feet from the beginning of the runway, according to an FAA inspector. From about 3,000 feet to about 5,000 feet, tire marks were consistent with anti-skid action.
The accident severed the left main and nose landing gear assemblies. The right gear remained attached but collapsed. In addition, the outboard one-third of the left wing was severed and the nose was crushed inward about seven feet.
There were no injuries to the two pilots, the flight attendant or passengers. All nine occupants deplaned through the aft left emergency exit window.
The aircraft (G-GMAC), registered to GAMA Aviation of Farnborough, England, was on a charter flight from London Luton Airport. The pilots told the NTSB that the approach was less turbulent than expected, considering the strong, gusty crosswinds prevailing at the time. They were holding a Vref of 128 plus 17 knots (for a total of 145 knots), according to the NTSB.
Nose Gear Collapse
There were also no injuries reported in the November 29 landing-gear collapse of a NetJets Gulfstream IV-SP. The fractional operator said that after a “normal landing” at Eagle County Regional Airport, Colo., N420QS “experienced directional control problems, departed the runway and the nose gear collapsed. There were no injuries and there were no passengers aboard.” The weather was reported as VMC with a calm wind and dry runway. According to the pilot, the airplane touched down at the 1,000-foot point on Runway 25. Following nosewheel touchdown, the aircraft started an uncommanded turn to the right and the pilot was unable to keep the airplane on the runway centerline.
At approximately 2,800 feet, skid/scuff marks from the airplane’s nose landing gear tires appear as the airplane began to veer to the right, the NTSB said. At about 3,900 feet, the airplane went off the right side of the runway. The nose landing gear collapsed backwards, and the nose and right wingtip struck the ground. The forward fuselage and outboard right wing were substantially damaged.