- Date
- May 7, 2003, 12:15 local (16:15 UTC)
- Place
- Boston, MA
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Standing
- Aircraft
- N484CABombardier CL-600-2B19
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 30, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA FSDO-01
- FAA report
- 20030507008139A
- Case key
- 56953
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The operator's loss of control of the belt-loader while operating in the proximity of the airplane.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The airplane was chocked, the seat belt sign had been turned off, and the passengers were disembarking. As the operator of a belt-loader approached the airplane, he tested the brakes, and they operated normally. When the belt-loader was about 3-4 feet from the airplane, the belt-loader operator again applied the brakes; however, they were either jammed or stuck, and would not work. He switched the transmission into neutral, but the belt-loader continued to roll forward, until it struck the fuselage of the airplane. The belt-loader operator further stated that he did not think to use the emergency brake. Post-accident examination of the belt-loader revealed no mechanical discrepancies.
Factual narrative
On May 7, 2003, at 1215 eastern daylight time, a Bombardier CL-600-2B19, N484CA, operated by Comair Inc., as flight 5347, was substantially damaged when a baggage belt-loader collided with it, while parked at the General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport (BOS), Boston, Massachusetts. There were no injuries to the 3-person crew, or the operator of the belt-loader. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. An instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the flight, between the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington, DC, and Boston. The scheduled passenger flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 121.
The airplane was chocked, the seat belt sign had been turned off, and the passengers were disembarking.
The operator of the belt-loader stated that when he initially approached the airplane with the belt-loader, he tested the brakes and they operated normally. When the belt-loader was about 3-4 feet from the airplane, he again applied the brakes; however, they were either jammed or stuck. He switched the transmission into neutral, but the belt-loader continued to roll forward, until it struck the fuselage of the airplane. The belt-loader operator further stated that he did not think to use the emergency brake.
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector reported that the loader had punctured the fuselage about 2 feet below the cargo door threshold, creating a 15-inch by 9-inch hole. Additionally, two stringers were damaged.
Post-accident examination of the belt-loader revealed no mechanical discrepancies.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N484CA
- Reported as
- Bombardier CL-600-2B19
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 7702
- Airframe hours
- 1,449
- Engines
- General Electric CF-34-3B1, 9,220 lbs thrust, turbo fanGeneral Electric CF-34-3B1, 9,220 lbs thrust, turbo fan
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Registered owner
- Comair Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Last inspection
- Continuous airworthiness · May 2, 2003 · 51 hours before
- Departed
- DCA · Washington, DC
- Destination
- BOS · Boston, MA
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- BOS · Logan International Airport
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 33
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Last flight review
- January 21, 2003
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 7,800 total · 5,100 in this make and model · 4,000 as pilot in command · 240 in the last 90 days · 80 in the last 30 days · 7 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Co-pilot
- Age
- 32
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Last flight review
- December 12, 2001
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 5,107 total · 1,644 in this make and model · 2,951 as pilot in command · 220 in the last 90 days · 81 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 12 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.86 inHg
- Observed at
- BOS
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.