# NTSB CHI05LA047: Learjet 25B, N252BK, Cedar Rapids, IA, December 20, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 20, 2004, 13:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Cedar Rapids, IA - Coordinates: 41.883888, -91.70639 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8839&lon=-91.7064&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Des Moines, IA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 60761 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI05LA047 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60761/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI05LA047 ## Probable cause The pilot was not able to maintain directional control of the airplane due to the failure of the nose gear strut seal which prevented the nose wheel from centering. A factor associated with the accident was the berm that the airplane contacted. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, takeoff - hydraulic system,seal - failure,total (cause) - landing gear,steering system - inoperative (cause) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - directional control - not possible, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - berm (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane collided with a berm following a loss of directional control while landing. The airplane was on a 14 CFR Part 91 positioning flight at the time of the accident. The pilots reported that they encountered what they thought were rough spots on the runway during the takeoff roll. The captain reported that after takeoff, he called for the co-pilot to raise the gear and engage the yaw damper. The crew then noticed an unsafe gear indication for the nose gear. The captain stated they leveled off at 5,000 feet and decreased the airspeed so they could recycled the landing gear. Cycling the landing gear did not resolve the problem. The crew then requested to return to the departure airport for landing. The landing gear was extended and a gear down and locked indication for all three landing gear was observed. The captain stated that on touchdown, the co-pilot extended the spoilers and armed the thrust reversers. He stated that after the nose wheel touched down the airplane made a sharp left turn and traveled off the side of the runway through the grass. The airplane contacted a four-foot high berm prior to coming to a stop on another runway. The captain stated he attempted to taxi the airplane only to discover that they did not have any nose wheel steering. Post accident inspection revealed the seal on the nose gear strut had failed which prevented the nose gear from centering. ## Factual narrative On December 20, 2004, at 1330 central standard time, a Learjet 25B, N252BK, operated by Barkin International Aviation, collided with a berm following a loss of directional control while landing on runway 13 (6,200 feet by 150 feet, dry asphalt) at the Eastern Iowa Airport (CID), Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The airline transport rated captain, commercial rated co-pilot, and two medical crew members were not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 positioning flight was being conducted in visual meteorological conditions with an instrument flight rules flight plan on file. The flight originated from CID with an intended destination of McAllen, Texas. Both pilots reported that they encountered what they thought were rough spots on the runway during the takeoff roll. The captain reported that after takeoff, he called for the co-pilot to raise the gear and engage the yaw damper. He stated he then called for the flaps to be retracted and for the climb checklist. He stated that both he and the co-pilot then noticed an unsafe gear indication for the nose gear. The captain stated they leveled off at 5,000 feet and he decreased the airspeed so that the co-pilot could recycled the landing gear. They informed the tower that they had a problem with the gear and that they wanted to stay in the area. The co-pilot cycled the landing gear four more times to no avail. The captain stated they then requested a landing back at CID. He stated they had a gear down and locked indication for all three landing gear during the visual approach to runway 13. The captain stated that on touchdown, the co-pilot extended the spoilers and armed the thrust reversers. He stated that after the nose wheel touched down the airplane made a sharp left turn and traveled off the side of the runway through the grass. The airplane contacted a four-foot high berm prior to coming to a stop on runway 09. The captain stated he attempted to taxi the airplane only to discover that they did not have any nose wheel steering. Post accident inspection revealed the seal on the nose gear strut had failed which prevented the nose gear from centering. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N252BK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N252BK-2013-06-07), registration cancelled 2013-06-07, S/N 107, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Learjet 25B - Registry model: [Gates Lear Jet 25B](https://openairdocs.org/model/gates-lear-jet-25b) (registry code 5170511) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [GE CJ610-SER series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-cj610-ser-series) (registry code 30006, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 107 - Airframe hours: 11970 - Engines: General Electric CJ610-6 2950 lbs thrust turbo jet - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Goldstar International, Inc. - Registered owner: Barken International Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, June 19, 2004, 186 hours before - Departed: CID, Cedar Rapids, IA - Destination: MFE, McAllen, TX - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: CID, Eastern Iowa Airport, runway 13, 6,200 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review June 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 6,225 total, 350 in this make and model, 5,233 as pilot in command, 91 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 26; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review April 1, 2004; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,107 total, 5 in this make and model, 940 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 14 knots, gusting 23 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 9 °F - Altimeter: 29.54 inHg - Observed at: CID ## 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 20041220033989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041220033989A), Dec 20, 2004: Lear 25B, Cedar Rapids, IA, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft departed cid, experienced an unsafe nose gear retraction indication, cycled gear several times with the same result, and landed at cid on runway… 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.