N190WC

On February 03, 2001, at 0910 central standard time, a British Aerospace HS.125-700A turbojet airplane, N190WC, was substantially damaged when its left wing fuel tank compressed and the left wing distorted during a normal descent into New Orleans, Louisiana. The airplane was registered to and operated by Walker Aviation, Inc., of Jackson, Mississippi. The airline transport pilot-in-command (PIC), the airline transport second-in-command (SIC), and the jump seat passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 business flight. The flight originated from Jackson, Mississippi, at 0830, and was destined for New Orleans.

During a telephone interview conducted by the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the PIC stated that they were flying at 4,000 feet msl over Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana, when the flight crew heard a bang. The pilots thought that they had experienced a bird strike, and they landed the airplane uneventfully at New Orleans Lakefront Airport.

Post flight examination of the left wing revealed that the left wing's fuel vent was blocked with duct tape, and the wet wing fuel tank had collapsed. The PIC stated that the fuel tanks had been repaired and pressure tested prior to the flight. The PIC added that after the pressure test, the mechanic, who repaired the fuel tank, removed the tape from the right wing's fuel vent; however, both the mechanic and the flight crew failed to notice the duct tape over the left wing's fuel vent. The flight crew stated that there were no streamers or markers present to indicate that the fuel tank vent was covered with duct tape.

According to one of the FAA inspectors, who examined the airplane, the fuel tank stringers and the wing's ribs sustained structural damage.