Gates Lear Jet 36 N12FN

Summary

On 30 November 2022 at about 12:35 local time, a Gates Lear Jet 36 registered N12FN, operated by Aery Aviation, was involved in an accident near Newport News, Virginia, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 November 2022 at 12:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Newport News, Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

Newport News/Williamsburg Intl (PHF)

Coordinates

37.1379, -76.4772

Aircraft

Gates Lear Jet 36

Registration

N12FN

Category

Airplane

Year built

1975

Engines

2

Operator

Aery Aviation

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA23LA075

Nobody was injured.

A left main landing gear tire rupture during takeoff, which resulted in a runway overrun.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot-in-command (PIC) reported hearing a “boom” during the takeoff just before reaching V1 and a second “boom” just as he called out V1. The second-in-command (SIC), who was the pilot flying, called to abort the takeoff. Both suspected they had blown tires. They attempted to slow the airplane, but the there was no braking action. The drag chute was deployed but the airplane continued off the end of the runway, traveled through the runway end lights, and into the grass. During the accident sequence, the drag chute separated from the airplane and was located on the runway. Examination of the airplane after the accident revealed that the left main landing gear tire had ruptured and pieces of the tire and the left brake system assembly were found along the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing during the accident. According to the operator’s operations manager, the airplane’s tire pressures should have been checked at least every 7 days. When the tire pressures were checked about 2 weeks before the accident, the left inboard tire pressure was low. Air was added to the tire and the airplane was returned to service. The tire pressures were not documented since that entry. A mechanic from the operator stated the tire pressures were checked the day before the accident, and “the pressure was within limits set forth” by the manufacturer. In addition, the mechanic stated that no maintenance entry was made since no corrective action was needed. Although the mechanic stated he checked the tire pressure the day before the accident, the tire pressured was not checked on the day of the accident, as recommended by the airframe manufacturer. Given this information, it could not be determined whether or not the tires were appropriately inflated at the time of the accident. It is likely, that when the left main landing gear tire ruptured, the tire tread damaged the left main landing gear brake assembly as well as the hydraulic line in the left wing that was ruptured. Subsequently, the hydraulic fluid drained from the system, and the brake system was ineffective due to a lack of hydraulic fluid, and resulted in the flight crew’s inability to stop the airplane on the runway.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.