# NTSB ERA11CA046: Bombardier CL-600-2B19, N454SW, Pittsburgh, PA, November 2, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: November 2, 2010, 19:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Pittsburgh, PA
- Coordinates: 40.488056, -80.226387
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4881&lon=-80.2264&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: 41 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 20, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: SkyWest Airlines, FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 77725
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA046
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77725/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77725
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA046

## Probable cause

The ground crew’s failure to detach the air-starter hose from the airplane before moving the cart away resulting in structural damage to a skin panel.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02010000): Personnel issues › Physical · Ground crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Bombardier CL-600-2B19, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02010000/cases.md?model=1390008), [All aircraft, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02010000/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: [Bombardier CL-600-2B19, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080/sequence.md?model=1390008), [All aircraft, 108 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the operator, the airplane was parked at the gate preparing to be pushed back when the damage occurred. A ground crew worker had connected an air-starter cart to the airplane, and then determined that the air cart was not functioning properly. The worker attempted to pull the cart away from the airplane without disconnecting the hose, resulting in substantial damage to the skin panels on the left, lower side of the airplane's fuselage.

## Factual narrative

According to the operator, the airplane was parked at the gate preparing to push back for a revenue flight when the damage occurred. A ground crew worker had connected an air-starter cart to the airplane, and then determined that it was not functioning properly. The worker attempted to pull the cart away from the airplane without disconnecting the hose, resulting in substantial damage to the skin panels on the left, lower side of the airplane's fuselage.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N454SW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N454SW), registered now, S/N 7749, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOMBARDIER INC CL-600-2B19
- Registry model: [Bombardier CL-600-2B19](https://openairdocs.org/model/bombardier-cl-600-2b19) (registry code 1390008) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [GE CF34 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-cf34-series) (registry code 30015, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7749
- Airframe hours: 20042
- Engines: GE CF34-3B1 9140 lbs thrust turbo fan; GE CF34-3B1 9140 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: SkyWest Airlines
- Registered owner: Wells Fargo Bank Northwest N A Trustee
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, October 31, 2010
- Departed: PIT, Pittsburgh, PA
- Destination: MSP, Minneapolis, MN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: PIT, Pttsburgh International Airpor

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 29, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 5,328 total, 3,278 in this make and model
- Co-pilot; age 35; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 11, 2010; seat: right; flight hours: 5,979 total, 3,146 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: 40° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 30.28 inHg
- Observed at: PIT

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 3, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77725. 1.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 670 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40340103&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 210 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40340104&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF
- Diagram of Airplane Damage (item 3, .PDF, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40340109&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Diagram%20of%20Airplane%20Damage-Redacted.PDF
- Weather Records: KPIT METARs (item 4, .PDF, 30 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40340105&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Records%3A%20KPIT%20METARs-Master.PDF
- Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 5, .PDF, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40340107&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Redacted.PDF
- Photo #1: Damage to Airplane (Courtesy of Airline) (item 6, .PDF, 142 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40340108&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20%231%3A%20Damage%20to%20Airplane%20(Courtesy%20of%20Airline)-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.

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