NYC01FA084

Arriving in the Bridgeport Airport area, the Pilot-in-Command (PIC) received the ATIS, which stated that the visibility was 1/2-mile with snow and fog. The ILS Runway 06 approach was in use. Braking action advisories were in effect, and all surfaces were covered with thin wet snow. During the approach to the airport, with the Second-in-Command (SIC) at the controls, the PIC visually observed that the hydraulic pressure gauge, "smiley face," was normal, and he performed a "brake test." The tower controller advised the flightcrew that a Navajo had just landed and reported a 250-foot ceiling, 3/4 miles of visibility, and that the runway braking action was "good." On final approach, the airplane broke out of the overcast clouds about 400 feet above the ground. The runway appeared dry, with only blowing snow across it. As the airplane touched down about 1,463 feet beyond the approach end of the 4,677-foot long runway on the runway, the SIC stated that she did not have any braking effectiveness, and selected the "dump flaps" to slow the airplane. The airplane continued down the runway and did not seem to be slowing to a safe speed. The flightcrew observed the 1,000-foot marker approaching and the SIC selected the emergency brakes. After she felt a lack of deceleration, the SIC selected the parking brake. The airplane continued off the end of the runway, impacted a non-frangible fence, and came to rest with about 4 feet of the airplane protruding onto a public access road. Examination of the airplane revealed a reference speed set on the pilot's airspeed indicator of 117 knots. According to the Hawker Siddeley HS-125 Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) performance section, the uncorrected landing distance, on a dry runway, at the estimated landing weight of the airplane was approximately 2,610 feet. The AFM performance section also had a chart for the "Effect of Slippery Runway on Landing Distance." The chart determined that the "equivalent scheduled landing distance available," was approximately 2,150 feet. According to airport records, a NOTAM was issued the day of the accident, which referenced the condition of the runway surfaces as having "Thin wet snow all surfaces." An air traffic controller observed slush "spraying" from the airplane, which extended 5 feet from the airplane, as the airplane rolled out. The airplane's braking system was tested after the accident and no abnormalities were noted.

History of flight

On March 9, 2001, about 1301 eastern standard time, a Hawker Siddeley HS-125-3A, N48DD, was substantially damaged when it overran the runway while landing at the Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Airport (BDR), Bridgeport, Connecticut. The two certificated airline transport pilots were not injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the positioning flight that originated from the Bradley International Airport, Windsor Locks, Connecticut, about 1230. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the pilot-in-command (PIC), the airplane was positioned to BDL for the second-in-command (SIC) to receive a PIC checkride from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); however, the checkride was canceled due to weather conditions. The PIC additionally stated that part of the oral portion of checkride, which was conducted, included preflight planning of airplane performance data and weather evaluation for the flight to BDR.

According to the SIC, the airplane was repositioned to BDR for her to complete a checkride with the FAA; however, due to the airplane's airworthiness paperwork not being in order, a FAA inspector canceled the checkride. The flightcrew then contacted a FSS to check the weather and file a flight plan for the flight to BDR. The SIC additionally stated that the flightcrew did not complete any airplane performance or weather planning prior to their departure from BDL.

According to the FAA airworthiness inspector who examined the airplane's documents for the SIC's checkride, he could not make a determination of the airplane's airworthiness due to the failure of the flightcrew's ability to produce documents confirming the airworthiness. The inspector then informed the FAA operations inspector that he could not make a determination of the airplane's airworthiness, and not to fly in the airplane.

According to the FAA operations inspector who was to conduct the checkride, he did not conduct any airplane performance or weather planning with the flightcrew.

The SIC additionally stated that she contacted a Flight Service Station (FSS), about 1045, to check the weather and file a flight plan for the checkride, and the return flight to BDR. At 1122, the SIC made a second call to a FSS, requesting the weather conditions at Westfield and Worchester, Massachusetts, "to see just how much it changed after the hour." At 1226, the SIC made a third call to a FSS. She requested the weather at BDL and BDR. The briefer advised the weather at BDL, then advised that the hourly BDR weather was, "three hundred overcast, one-half mile, snow and fog, [winds] one thirty at seven, [temperature and dew point] plus one, zero. OK? Anything else?" The SIC replied, "that's what I needed." Review of recorded conversations between the SIC and the FSS briefer revealed that the SIC did not request, nor receive, any NOTAMS during any of the calls.

The airplane then departed BDL with the SIC at the left seat position flying the airplane, for the positioning flight to BDR.

According to the flightcrew, the flight arrived in the BDR area, and an ILS approach to runway 6 was executed to the airport. During the approach, while completing the landing checklist, the PIC visually observed that the hydraulic pressure gauge, "smiley face," was normal, and he performed a "brake test." The BDR tower controller advised the flightcrew that a Navajo had just landed and reported a 250-foot ceiling, 3/4 miles of visibility, and that the runway braking action was "good." On final approach, the airplane broke out of the overcast clouds about 400 feet above the ground. The runway appeared dry, with only blowing snow across it, and the approach was continued at an airspeed of about 126 knots. As the airplane touched down on the runway, at an airspeed of about 116 knots, the SIC stated to the PIC that she did not have any braking effectiveness, and selected the "dump flaps" to slow the airplane. The airplane continued down the runway and did not seem to be slowing to a safe speed. The flightcrew observed the 1,000-foot remaining marker approaching and the SIC selected the emergency brakes. After she felt a lack of deceleration, the SIC selected the parking brake. The airplane continued off the end of the runway, impacted a non-frangible fence, and came to rest with about 4 feet of the airplane protruding onto a public access road.

After the accident, the air traffic controller who had issued the landing clearance to the airplane stated that he observed the airplane touch down on runway 6, abeam "taxiway Bravo, with 3,200 feet remaining." On landing rollout, slush was observed, "spraying" from the airplane, which extended rearward, about 5 feet from the airplane. The controller did not observe the airplane impact the fence due to the obscured visibility from snow. The controller added that the airplane "landed at a high rate of speed."

According to a witness who was driving on a road about 1/4 mile prior to runway 6, he observed a jet airplane on approach to the airport. The witness, who was also a private pilot, estimated that the airplane crossed over the threshold of the runway at an altitude of about 100 feet and about 125 feet to the right of the runway centerline. As the witness continued to observe the airplane, it banked to the left about 10-15 degrees and became aligned with the centerline of the runway. The witness thought he would see the airplane execute a missed approach, but it continued to fly down the runway, about a "gear length" above the runway. The witness did not observe the airplane touchdown on the runway, as it traveled out of view due to the snow obscuring the visibility, which he estimated as 3/4 mile. The witness estimated the speed of the airplane, as he observed it landing, was "hot", but he could not estimate a numerical value.

Excerpts of the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) transcript revealed the following:

At the beginning of the transcribed recording, BDR ATIS weather information "Kilo" was recorded on the PIC's channel.

At 12:49:12, the ATIS recording stated, "Bridgeport tower information Kilo, time one six five four, wind one four zero at seven, visibility one half mile with snow, fog, ceiling three hundred overcast, temperature one, dew point zero, altimeter two nine eight zero. Expect the ILS approach landing runway six, departing runway eleven. NOTAMS. PAPI runway six out of service. Thin wet snow all surfaces. Braking action advisories in effect. Aircraft taxiing for departure are require to read back runway assignments. Sikorsky heliport class Delta airspace north of Bridgeport is active."

The PIC then briefed the SIC with the information that he had received. During the brief, the PIC did not mention any of the current NOTAMS transmitted on the ATIS.

At 13:00:27.7, the PIC stated, "ref plus five."

At 13:00:30.4, the PIC stated, "little gusty."

At 13:00:34.9, the cockpit area mike recorded sounds of clicks and knocks.

At 13:00:35.1, the PIC stated, "ah uh we need to get on it, two thousand feet to go."

Throughout the CVR transcript, there was no discussion between the flightcrew of the current NOTAM's at BDR, or landing performance data.

The accident occurred during the hours of daylight, approximately 41 degrees, 09 minutes north latitude, and 70 degrees, 07 minutes west longitude.

Flightcrew information

Pilot-in-Command

The PIC held an airline transport certificate with a rating for airplane multi-engine land, and commercial privileges for airplane single-engine land. In addition, the PIC was type rated in the Boeing 727, Hawker Siddeley HS-125, Israel Industries IA-JET, and North American Rockwell N-265. The PIC reported his total flying experience in airplanes was 7,000 hours. He also reported that he had accumulated about 600 hours in the Hawker Siddeley H