- Date
- April 1, 1996, 10:04 local (15:04 UTC)
- Place
- Raleigh, NC
- Injuries
- 9 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N999TFCanadair CL-600S
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 29, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960401005709A
- Case key
- 3717
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 flight crew's inadequate emergency procedure in that they did not manually extend the landing gear, as specified in the airplane flight manual. A factor relating to the accident was: the intermittent operation of the extend solenoid in the nose gear selector valve.
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 an instrument landing system (ILS) approach the airline transport pilot noticed a discrepancy in the landing gear indicators. He raised the landing gear and lowered it again. The main landing gear indicator lights were illuminated, indicating that the main gear was extended and locked, but the nose gear light was extinguished. The light in the gear handle was off, indicating that the system was functioning properly. The pilot did not use the emergency landing gear extension system. The aircraft was landed, and the nose gear collapsed. Subsequent examination revealed an intermittently operating extend solenoid in the nose gear selector valve.
Factual narrative
On April 1, 1996, about 1004 eastern standard time, Canadair CL-600-1A11, N999TF, nose landing gear collapsed on landing at the Raleigh-Durham Airport, Raleigh, North Carolina. The aircraft was being operated by Pal-Waukee Aviation under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 135 and instrument flight rules. Instrument meteorological conditions existed at the time of the accident, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was in effect. The airline transport pilot, his co-pilot, the cabin attendant, and the six passengers were not injured; the aircraft was substantially damaged. The flight departed Milwaukee, Wisconsin at 0830 the same day.
The pilot stated that when the landing gear was extended, the landing gear position indicating system presented conflicting information regarding the position of the nose landing gear. The landing gear was then raised, and the indicator lights were all extinguished. The gear was again extended. The main gear indicator lights were illuminated, indicating that the main gear was down, but the nose gear light was extinguished. The light in the gear handle was off, indicating that the system was functioning properly. The pilot did not use the emergency landing gear extension system. The aircraft was landed and the nose gear collapsed. The pilot stated that the clouds and visibility precluded any observation of the landing gear by airport tower personnel.
Post accident examination of the nose gear selector valve revealed an intermittently inoperative extend solenoid valve. According to the failure analysis report, the solenoid valve most likely experienced moisture entry. The manufacturer reported that the selector valve was repaired with an upgraded solenoid to preclude recurrence of the failure.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N999TF
- Reported as
- Canadair CL-600S
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1042
- Airframe hours
- 3,395
- Engine
- Allied Signal ALF502L2C, 7,500 horsepower, turbo fan
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Pal-Waukee Aviation, doing business as Priester Aviation
- Registered owner
- U.S. Bancorp Leasing & Financ.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Last inspection
- AAIP · January 29, 1996 · 46 hours before
- Departed
- MKE · Milwaukee, WI
- Destination
- RDU
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- RDU · Raleigh-Durham, runway 23R, 10,000 × 150 ft, concrete
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 37
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 6,500 total · 1,014 in this make and model · 3,750 as pilot in command · 155 in the last 90 days · 53 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- 340° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 300 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 52 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- RDU, 1 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.