Monday, May 25, 2009

I'm glad I left

The following is from the NTSB website. Unfortunatly, I could have told you something like this was going to happen. I know the CA, he was in my initial new hire class, sadly I had a feeling about him. The best thing to come out of this incident is that nobody got hurt and the only damage is a little bent metal and hurt feelings.


NTSB Identification: ERA09LA282
Nonscheduled 14 CFR Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Accident occurred Sunday, December 21, 2008 in Jamestown, NY
Aircraft: DASSAULT/SUD FAN JET, registration: N165TW
Injuries: 2 Uninjured.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

On December 21, 2008, about 0100 eastern standard time, a Dassault Falcon 20, N165TW, was substantially damaged following a runway excursion after landing on runway 25 at the Chautauqua County/Jamestown Airport (JHW), Jamestown, New York. The airplane was registered to Sierra America Corporation and operated by Ameristar Jet Charter, Inc. The airline transport-rated pilot and commercial-rated co-pilot were not injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 cargo flight. The flight originated at Tulsa International Airport (TUL), Tulsa, Oklahoma at 2200 central standard time.

The Director of Operations for Ameristar Jet Charter reported that during the landing roll at JHW, the airplane overran the runway and came to a stop approximately 100 feet into the runway overrun. The co-pilot was the pilot flying during the approach and landing, and control was transferred to the captain when no braking action was observed. During the excursion, the nose gear struck a snow berm at the end of the runway. The crew taxied the airplane to the ramp, where damage to the nose landing gear strut was discovered. Subsequent examination of the airplane by Dassault engineering personnel revealed wrinkling of the fuselage skin and a 0.5-inch separation in the nose gear bin assembly.

The operator reported that a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) was issued by the airport reporting patchy snow and ice on the runways. The operator reported that during the landing, the runway was "ice covered" and that braking action was "nil."

The captain reported in his written statement that the drag chute did not deploy when activated by the co-pilot during the landing roll. The tail cone deployed, however the chute was found partially hanging out of its pod.

The 0055 weather observation for JHW included the following: overcast ceiling at 1,300 feet, surface winds calm, 10 statute miles visibility, temperature 18 degrees Fahrenheit (F), dew point 12 degrees F, and an altimeter setting of 29.68 inches of mercury.