- Date
- February 4, 2001, 13:24 local (17:24 UTC)
- Place
- Ft. Pierce, FL
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N48WALearjet 25B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 23, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- ORLANDO FSDO
- FAA report
- 20010204005509A
- Case key
- 51447
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The mechanic's failure to properly install and secure the left main landing gear aft trunnion pin in accordance with procedures.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
During take off the pilot experienced a landing gear retraction problem. Shortly after touch down, the left main landing gear broke away from the airframe. Directional control of the airplane was lost, and the airplane skidded off to the left side of the runway. Examination of the aircraft maintenance records revealed that the landing gear assembly had been removed and reinstalled during a recent maintenance procedure. Further examination revealed that the left main landing gear trunnion pin was improperly installed and secured in accordance with the Learjet maintenance manual.
Factual narrative
On February 4, 2001, at 1324 eastern standard time, a Learjet 25B, N48WA, skidded off the runway at St. Lucie County International Airport, in Fort Pierce, Florida. The aero medical flight was operated by Able American Jets under the provisions of Title 14 CFR part 91, with a flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The Learjet received substantial damage, and the pilot and crew were not injured. The flight originated from Ft. Pierce, Florida, at 1200.
According to pilot, after taking off, he experienced a landing gear retraction problem. Unable to resolve this problem, the crew then decided to return to St. Lucie County International Airport for an emergency landing. Shortly after touch down, the left main landing gear broke away from the airframe. The pilot reported that he lost directional control, and the aircraft then skidded off to the left side of the runway.
Examination of the aircraft maintenance records revealed that the landing gear assembly had been removed and reinstalled during a recent maintenance procedure. Further examination revealed that the left main landing gear trunnion pin was improperly installed and not in accordance with the Learjet maintenance manual instructions.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N48WA
- Reported as
- Learjet 25B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 25-136
- Airframe hours
- 10,810
- Engine
- GE CJ610-6, 2,950 lbs thrust, turbo jet
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public aircraft · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Able American Jets
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- AAIP · January 19, 2001 · 31 hours before
- Departed
- FPR · Ft. Pierce, FL
- Destination
- FPR · Ft. Pierce, FL
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- FPR · Ft. Pierce International, runway 27, 6,492 × 150 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 32
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- December 31, 2000
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 4,500 total · 1,500 in this make and model · 3,800 as pilot in command · 140 in the last 90 days · 45 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Co-pilot
- Age
- 33
- Injuries
- None
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- January 1, 2001
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 1,560 total · 150 in this make and model · 1,100 as pilot in command · 170 in the last 90 days · 70 in the last 30 days · 7 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 4,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.05 inHg
- Observed at
- FPR
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.