# NTSB CHI94LA112: Dassault-Breguet Falcon 900, N327K, Detroit, MI, March 17, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 17, 1994, 01:39 local (06:39 UTC) - Place: Detroit, MI - Coordinates: 42.220348, -83.350372 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2203&lon=-83.3504&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 9 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 14, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9489 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94LA112 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9489/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA112 ## Probable cause the nose landing gear jammed in the UP position due to low pressure in the nose gear strut. A factor associated with the accident is the manufacturer's insufficient standards/requirements for determining the amount of nose strut inflation. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Gear not extended, landing - landing gear,nose gear - jammed - landing gear,nose gear strut - pressure too low (cause) - insufficient standards/requirements, manufacturer (contributing factor) ## Analysis After takeoff from Washington National Airport, the flight crew reported a loud air noise coming from the nose gear area after landing gear retraction. The crew elected to continue to their destination, Detroit Metro Airport. At their destination, the nose landing gear did not extend. The pilot made a landing with the nose gear UP. When the nose gear was retracted on takeoff the nose gear door hooks missed the gear door rollers on the lower nose gear strut. In the wheel well, the gear door rollers were above the gear door hooks. The gear will not extend when this configuration exists. The nose gear strut pressure was found to be below minimum acceptable pressure. The inspection program required a dimensional check of the nose strut extension to determine if there was acceptable strut pressure. It was found that the proper dimension can exist without minimum pressure in the strut. ## Factual narrative On March 17, 1994, at 0139 eastern standard time, a Dassault-Breguet Falcon 900, N327K, operated by the Ford Motor Company, Detroit, Michigan, sustained substantial damage when the pilot made an intentional landing at the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport with the nose landing gear in the UP position. The three crewmembers and six passengers aboard the airplane were not injured. The corporate flight originated at Washington National Airport, Washington, D.C.. An IFR flight plan was filed, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The flight crew reported there was a loud air noise coming from the nose gear area upon gear retraction when they departed Washington National. The gear indicated UP. The crew elected to continue to their destination, Detroit Metro. The examination of the nose gear revealed that the nose gear door hooks had missed the rollers on the lower portion of the nose gear when the gear was retracted. After retraction the nose gear rollers were above the nose gear door hooks. The gear can not extend with the rollers above the door hooks. The strut pressure in the nose gear was found to be below minimum required pressure. The daily inspection criteria for acceptable strut pressure was a dimensional check. It was found that the proper dimension could be obtained without minimum pressure in the strut. ## Aircraft - Registration: N327K (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: DASSAULT-BREGUET FALCON 900 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 003 - Airframe hours: 3397 - Engines: GARRETT TFE731-5AR-IC 4500 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ford Motor Co. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport; Special, Provisional (Special) - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, February 14, 1994, 36 hours before - Departed: DCA, WASHINGTON, DC - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: DTW, Detroit Metro, runway 3R, 10,000 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 14,000 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 10,500 as pilot in command, 110 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 310° at 8 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 19 °F, dew point 3 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: DTW ## 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 19940317000439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940317000439A), Mar 17, 1994: Amd FALCON900, Detroit, MI, Substantial damage. Narrative: airworthiness- falcon jet structural engineer, stated that the system that pressurizes the nose strut was low. He believes the strut compressed by… 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.