Gates Learjet 24B N721J

Summary

On 12 May 1982 at about 22:54 local time, a Gates Learjet 24B registered N721J, operated by Delaware Victor Air Service, was involved in an incident near Ft. Myer, Florida, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

12 May 1982 at 22:54

Classification

Incident

Location

Ft. Myer, Florida, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Gates Learjet 24B

Registration

N721J

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Delaware Victor Air Service

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Pbi → Iah

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DCA82IA021

Nobody was injured.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

WHILE CLIMBING TO A CRUISE ALTITUDE OF 41000 FEET, THE PILOT ENGAGED THE AUTOPILOT AT APPROXIMATELY 29500 FEET. THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO PITCH NOSE DOWN SEVERAL SECONDS LATER. THE PITCH TRIM SWITCH WAS TURNED OFF AND THE CIRCUIT BREAKERS PULLED. THE PILOTS WERE AIDED BY A PASSENGER AND USED ALL THEIR STRENGTH TO PULL BACK ON THE CONTROL WHEEL TO KEEP THE AIRCRAFT FROM CONTINUING TO PITCH NOSEDOWN. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED SAFELY. EXAMINATION OF AUTO- PILOT REVEALED THAT AN OVERVOLTAGE CONDITION EXISTED THAT WAS DRIVING THE STAB TRIM ACTUATOR TO THE AIRPLANE NOSE DOWN POSITION. IN ADDITION, THIS CAUSED THE AUTOPILOT EFFORT INDICATOR TO SHOW A MAXIMUM NOSE DOWN DEFLECTION. ACCORDING TO THE COPILOT'S STATEMENT, THE EFFORT INDICATOR WAS AT MAXIMUM DEFLECTION DURING THE PRE-TAKEOFF CHECK.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.