Travis Barker - 4 killed, 2 hurt as rock star's jet crashes

[AirplanesSuck]

Just heard...

The throttles were reportedly found in the full forward position. Not much more that we haven't heard before.

This is very much preliminary info. No further details. Sorry...wish I had more. Doesn't make sense to me either.

Yeah, that's probably inconclusive... could have been the impact, people in the plane escaping, etc.

If the CVR is viable, they will be able to tell what the engines were doing just from sound analysis.

 

[LRvsH25B]

Jerry Jones Learjet Crash

Very good info here that might answer some questions.

ATL01FA021HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On January 14, 2001, at 1345 central standard time, a Learjet LJ-60, N1DC, collided with two deer during landing and ran off the end of runway 7 at the Troy Municipal Airport, Troy, Alabama. The airplane was registered to and operated by Ark-Air Flight Inc. The business flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an IFR flight plan was filed. The Airline Transport pilot (ATP) and ATP rated first officer received serious injuries, and the airplane was destroyedand there was a post-impact fire. The flight originated from Love Field in Dallas, Texas, at 1030 on January 14, 2001.

According to witnesses, the airplane collided with the deer shortly after touchdown and continued down the runway with the tires smoking, and veered off the right side of the runway near the end, crossed a taxiway, and impacted into a ditch and burst into flames. Local rescuers were able to extricate the crew before the fire engulfed the cockpit. According to the pilots, the thrust reversers failed to operate when engaged.

PILOT INFORMATION

The pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with ATP privileges for airplane multiengine land, with type ratings in the Learjet LJ-60. He also held commercial pilot privileges for airplane single engine land, and was a certified flight instructor for airplane single and multiengine instrument airplanes. The pilot reported 20,750 total civilian hours on his most recent second class medical certificate, dated June 5, 2000, with no waivers or limitations. The pilot's most recent biennial flight review was in May of 2000, in the Learjet LJ-35.

The first officer held an ATP certificate with privileges for airplane multiengine land. He also held commercial pilot privileges for airplane single engine land, and was a certified flight instructor for airplane single and multiengine instrument airplanes. The first officer reported 3,500 hours total flight time in all aircraft with 750 hours in the LJ-60. The first officers most recent first class medical certificate was dated February 7, 2000, with no waivers or limitations. The first officers most recent biennial flight review was dated May of 2000, in the LJ-60.


AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The Learjet LJ-60, S/N 60-035, N1DC, was manufactured in 1994. FAA records show the airplane was registered to Ark-Air Inc., on June 12, 1997. The maintenance records revealed the airplane was on a manufacturer's inspection program and was last inspected on August 8, 2000. The airplane had accumulated a total time of 2,088 hours at the time of the accident, including 241 hours since its last inspection.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

Visual Flight Rule conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, with visibility at 10 statute miles, ceiling at 8000 feet above ground level, temperature 16 degrees Celsius, dew point 8 degrees Celsius, wind 170 degrees at 8 knots and altimeter 30.19 inches of mercury.

WRECKAGE EXAMINATION

Heavy black skid marks were noted beginning at the first taxiway turnoff about 1500 feet down the 5,010 foot runway. Two fragmented deer carcasses were found several hundred feet after impact. The skid marks continued for about 2,500 feet and departed the right side of the runway near the Instrument Landing System shack at the end of the runway and proceeded an additional 500 feet over grass and dirt. The airplane was found resting on its left side down an embankment. The cockpit section of the fuselage was crushed upward into the crew seats. The fuselage aft of the cockpit was consumed by the post crash-fire. Examination of the landing gear found all three gear collapsed and deer fur was found lodged in the squat switch on the left main landing gear. The right and left main tires had areas of rubber that were worn completely through. The flaps were found extended, and both thrust reverser’s were found in the stowed position. Examination of the cockpit found the throttles in idle, and the thrust reverser levers in the stowed position.

MEDICAL/PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION

Both pilots were hospitalized with serious injuries. There was no toxicology analysis conducted.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

With an estimated empty weight of 15,800 pounds and estimated fuel of 1,100 pounds, it was calculated that the airplane traveled 1500 feet down the runway after touchdown in 4.2 seconds before striking the deer, the performance group at Learjet using the weather reported at Troy, Alabama (variable winds and temperature at 14 degrees Celsius) the airplane landed with a ground speed of 124 knots. At 124 knots and maximum braking applied, the airplane should have come to a complete stop in about 850 feet.

A sound spectrum study was conducted using the Cockpit Voice Recorder as the source of the sound. The study was conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board's Vehicle Recorders Division. The study revealed that the engines fan speed increased from 8727.5 (82.3 percent) rpm to 9590 (90.4 percent) rpm between 11 seconds after touchdown and 18.2 seconds after touchdown. This increase in fan speed does not achieve the calculated takeoff N1, however, this engine speed is higher than achievable on a reverse thrust schedule. According to Pratt and Whitney of Canada, N1 is governed during reverse operations. The governing limit varies, and is based on ambient conditions and the airspeed. At 100 knots or greater, the maximum governing limit for N1 should be about 85.2 percent (according to Bombardier Aerospace) instead of the 90 percent found on the engines 20.4 seconds after landing.

Normal operating procedures include deploying the thrust reversers within 4 to 6 seconds after landing. Pilots deploy thrust reversers (T/R) by raising piggyback levers located in the cockpit with the throttles. With the loss of the squat switch on the left main landing gear, the T/R relay box deenergized the deploy solenoid and the T/R's go to the stow position. The electronic engine control (EEC) commands the engine speed to go to idle. As the T/R's complete the stow cycle, the unlock switches open, signaling the T/R relay box to remove the discrete signals. The EEC's switch to the forward thrust schedule and within 2.6 seconds estimated, and if the piggybacks remain at the max reverse position the engines rpm begins to increase to near takeoff power.

The airplane was released to the owners representative USAIG 2635 Century Parkway Suite 120, Atlanta, Ga. 30345.

 

[Club ORD FO]

no FDR on lear 60s, just CVR

 

[Ticker]

no FDR on lear 60s, just CVR

Oh...didn't know that. When I heard "Recorder" I assumed it was a FDR and not just a CVR.

Well, despite what we see in the pics, they actually have a lot to work with in respect to the physical evidence and the CVR.

 

[Club ORD FO]

Anybody else watch the dashcam video? Thoughts on the firetruck(s)?

 

[starcheckdriver]

Agreed. That or a firefighter working the scene. The FDR will tell the story for sure. They're pretty confident the FDR is intact.

Pretty chilling.

As a Lear 60 pilot, I am not aware of any 60 having a Flight Data Recorder. Only CVRs are installed unless things have changed with the newer models.

 

[Ticker]

As a Lear 60 pilot, I am not aware of any 60 having a Flight Data Recorder. Only CVRs are installed unless things have changed with the newer models.

Edited my original post for clarity.

I heard "Recorder" and assumed FDR.

Hello...my name is DUH!

 

[LR60BOY]

no FDR on lear 60s, just CVR

Disagree........the last 60 that I flew was 60-278. Certified to JAR ops. Equipped with FDR and CVR. One of the reasons it was so heavy. 15400 BOW.

 

[WTF]

Fdr

As a Lear 60 pilot, I am not aware of any 60 having a Flight Data Recorder. Only CVRs are installed unless things have changed with the newer models.

The engine information will be recorded on the EDS won't it? I am not sure exactly what is received from an EDS download but it should include some useful information. Also the sound analysis should clarify this further.

I do not think (non certified to JAA standards) Lear 60's have an FDR that I know of. But I have been wrong.

Speaking of being wrong. I did not know of the SB recommendation that mod'd the squats to allow the aircraft to know that it is still on the ground when one squat switch is compromised. I stated that I have never heard of this being on a 60. Thanks to LJ45 and USCpilot for remembering and bringing up the Mod.

 

[starcheckdriver]

I am fairly certain engine info would have been recorded on the EDS. Whether or the not the EDS is salvagable is another story. I don't think the EDS is given the same protection as the CVR.