# NTSB CHI89IA023: British Aerospace JS-3101, N333PX, Milwaukee, WI, November 10, 1988

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: November 10, 1988, 09:02 local (15:02 UTC)
- Place: Milwaukee, WI
- Coordinates: 42.980697, -87.900085 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9807&lon=-87.9001&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 12 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 11, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14279
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI89IA023
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14279/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI89IA023

## Probable cause

LOSS OF LUBRICATION TO THE OUTER WHEEL BEARING, AND THE SUBSEQUENT DISINTEGRATION OF THE BEARING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE INCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL TO PROPERLY INSPECT AND GREASE THE BEARING.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, takeoff
  - landing gear,wheel - separation (contributing factor)
  - maintenance,lubrication - inadequate, company maintenance personnel (cause)
  - maintenance - not followed, company maintenance personnel (cause)
- Gear not extended, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - runway
  - wheels up landing - intentional, pilot in command

## Analysis

THE BRITISH AEROSPACE JETSTREAM 3101 DEPARTED GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN WITH 10 PASSENGERS AND 2 CREW. JUST AFTER LIFTOFF, A WITNESS OBSERVED THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR WHEEL ROLLING DOWN THE RUNWAY, AND REPORTED IT TO THE TOWER. THE JETSTREAM FLEW PAST THE TOWER AND CONFIRMED THAT THE WHEEL WAS MISSING. THE CREW ELECTED TO CONTINUE TO THEIR DESTINATION OF MILWAUKEE WHERE THE AIRCRAFT WAS LANDED GEAR UP WITH FULL FLAPS AND THE PROPELLERS FEATHERED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N333PX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N333PX-2000-04-03), registration cancelled 2000-04-03, S/N 704 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BRITISH AEROSPACE JS-3101
- Registry model: [British Aerospace BAE JETSTREAM 3101](https://openairdocs.org/model/british-aerospace-bae-jetstream-3101) (registry code 1500216) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 704
- Airframe hours: 5653
- Engines: GARRETT TPE-331-10OVG 940 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Express Airlines 1, Inc, doing business as Northwest Airlink
- Registered owner: Meridian Trust Co.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, November 9, 1988, 5 hours before
- Departed: GRR, GRAND RAPIDS, MI
- Destination: MKE, MILWAUKEE, WI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: MKE, Mitchell, runway 1L, 9,900 × 200 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 3,650 total, 1,168 in this make and model, 2,947 as pilot in command, 235 in the last 90 days, 82 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 16 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,700 ft overcast
- Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MKE

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19881110071499I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881110071499I), Nov 10, 1988: Bag JETSTM3101, Milwaukee, WI, Minor damage. Lost right main wheel on takeoff. Landed gear up. Wheel bearing disintegrated due to lack of grease.

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.

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