# NTSB CEN10LA142: Bombardier BD-100-1A10, N515FX, Wheeling, IL, February 24, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 24, 2010, 10:20 local (16:20 UTC) - Place: Wheeling, IL - Coordinates: 42.114166, -87.90139 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1142&lon=-87.9014&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Standing: Ground handling event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 21, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Bombardier Aerospace, Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation Safety Board of Canada, Signature Flight Support - NTSB case key (mKey): 75458 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA142 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75458/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75458 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA142 ## Probable cause The deicing vehicle operator's not adhering to company procedures and not maintaining clearance between the vehicle's boom and the airplane's empennage during the airplane's deicing operation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Ground crew (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Oversight: oversight of operation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04032015): Organizational issues › Support/oversight/monitoring · Other institution/organization; cases with it: [All aircraft, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04032015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Standing: Ground handling event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 108 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, their executive jet airplane was undergoing deicing operations following their taxi to a run up pad near runway 34 and taxiway kilo, in preparation for departure. As the deicing truck was conducting the procedure, the vehicle's boom struck the airplane's empennage causing substantial damage. The fixed base operator’s [FBO] deicing/anti-icing training guidebook states that the driver should “always know where the boom and bucket are located.” There were supervisors on duty at the airport during the deicing operation; however, no supervisor was specifically overseeing the deicing operation. The FBO’s training guidebook did not require that a supervisor oversee deicing operations. ## Factual narrative On February 24, 2010, about 1020 central standard time, a Bombardier Inc. BD-100-1A10, N515FX, piloted by two airline transport pilots, sustained substantial damage when a deicing vehicle impacted the airplane during deicing operations prior to an intended departure from the Chicago Executive Airport, near Wheeling, Illinois. Both pilots and both deicing ground crewmembers were uninjured. The fractional ownership flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, Subpart K. Marginal visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and an instrument flight rules flight plan was on file. The positioning flight was destined for the Chicago Midway International Airport, Chicago, Illinois. An airport maintenance person stated he saw a Signature de-ice truck hit the horizontal stab on the right hand side (as sitting in plane). The Signature de-ice truck boom hit the tail, not the operator cab (where the de-ice operator stands). He said he saw the nose of the plane move forward, then down, and "I figured that the plane was hit." The pilot then came out of the aircraft to inspect it with Signature personnel. According to the pilot’s accident report, the deicing operation took place following their taxi to a run up pad near runway 34 and taxiway kilo. The fixed base operator’s [FBO] deicing/anti-icing training guidebook, under Equipment Operation, states that the deicing vehicle driver should “always know where the boom and bucket are located.” There were supervisors at the airport during the deicing operation. There was no supervisor overseeing the deicing operation. The FBO’s training guidebook did not require that a supervisor oversee deicing operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: N515FX (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: BOMBARDIER INC BD-100-1A10 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20032 - Airframe hours: 5480 - Engines: HONEYWELL AS907-1-1A 6944 lbs thrust turbo fan; HONEYWELL AS907-1-1A 6944 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 subpart K - Operator: Bombardier Flexjet - Registered owner: Lmm LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, September 24, 2009 - Departed: PWK, Wheeling, IL - Destination: MDW, Chicago, IL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: PWK, Chicago Executive Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 27, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 8,968 total, 2,679 in this make and model, 7,700 as pilot in command, 117 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 35; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 12, 2009; seat: right; flight hours: 9,347 total, 1,966 in this make and model, 1,985 as pilot in command, 143 in the last 90 days, 87 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 11 knots - Visibility: 2 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,600 ft overcast - Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: PWK ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20100224027979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100224027979A), Feb 24, 2010: Bombardier BD-100-1A10, Wheeling, IL, Substantial damage. The aircraft's right elevator was struck by the boom arm of the de-icing truck during the de-icing operation. ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 2, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75458. 5.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 790 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40330356&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Witness Statement (item 2, .PDF, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329907&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Master.PDF - Witness Statement (item 3, .PDF, 121 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329909&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Master.PDF - Signature Flight Support supplied training guidebook excerpts (item 4, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329916&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Signature%20Flight%20Support%20supplied%20training%20guidebook%20excerpts-Master.PDF - Signature Flight Support supplied training guidebook excerpts (item 5, .PDF, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329917&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Signature%20Flight%20Support%20supplied%20training%20guidebook%20excerpts-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 6, .PDF, 99 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329904&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.