Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot was not able to maintain directional control of the airplane due to the failure of the nose gear strut seal which prevented the nose wheel from centering. A factor associated with the accident was the berm that the airplane contacted.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On December 20, 2004, at 1330 central standard time, a Learjet 25B, N252BK, operated by Barkin International Aviation, collided with a berm following a loss of directional control while landing on runway 13 (6,200 feet by 150 feet, dry asphalt) at the Eastern Iowa Airport (CID), Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The airline transport rated captain, commercial rated co-pilot, and two medical crew members were not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 positioning flight was being conducted in visual meteorological conditions with an instrument flight rules flight plan on file. The flight originated from CID with an intended destination of McAllen, Texas.
Both pilots reported that they encountered what they thought were rough spots on the runway during the takeoff roll. The captain reported that after takeoff, he called for the co-pilot to raise the gear and engage the yaw damper. He stated he then called for the flaps to be retracted and for the climb checklist. He stated that both he and the co-pilot then noticed an unsafe gear indication for the nose gear. The captain stated they leveled off at 5,000 feet and he decreased the airspeed so that the co-pilot could recycled the landing gear. They informed the tower that they had a problem with the gear and that they wanted to stay in the area. The co-pilot cycled the landing gear four more times to no avail.
The captain stated they then requested a landing back at CID. He stated they had a gear down and locked indication for all three landing gear during the visual approach to runway 13. The captain stated that on touchdown, the co-pilot extended the spoilers and armed the thrust reversers. He stated that after the nose wheel touched down the airplane made a sharp left turn and traveled off the side of the runway through the grass. The airplane contacted a four-foot high berm prior to coming to a stop on runway 09. The captain stated he attempted to taxi the airplane only to discover that they did not have any nose wheel steering.
Post accident inspection revealed the seal on the nose gear strut had failed which prevented the nose gear from centering.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CHI05LA047