N232TN

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On November 1, 2006, about 0233 eastern standard time, a British Aerospace HS 125-700A, N232TN, registered to and operated by Juventude Ltd., was landed with the landing gear retracted at the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (KFLL), Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 executive/corporate flight from Licenciado Adolfo Lopez Mateos International Airport (MMTO), Toluca, Mexico, to KFLL. The airplane was substantially damaged and there were no injuries to the commercial-rated pilot, private-rated co-pilot, or 10 passengers. The flight originated about 2235 central standard time from MMTO.

The pilot-in-command (PIC) who was flying the airplane from the left seat reported that he began his day at 1100 CST, and flew 2 flights in a different airplane; the total flight duration for the 2 flights was approximately 3 hours. He did not rest between the 2 flights, then departed in the accident airplane and proceeded to KFLL. The airplane was "flying smooth", and when near KFLL, he became distracted in looking for the runway while executing a visual approach to runway 9L. The co-pilot read to himself from a "Flight Safety" checklist, but "not very loud", and there was no challenge response which was "...not typical for them." They "did not follow every item on the checklist", but the flaps were extended to 45 degrees for landing. In preparation for landing, he remembered placing his hand on the landing gear selector handle and moving it half way down, and later reported seeing a green light for the left main landing gear, but saw red lights for the nose and right main landing gears. He elected to continue the approach, and reduced the thrust levers to idle when the flight was approximately 1/4 mile from the runway. He did not hear an audible alarm at that time. The airplane was landed on runway 9L, and he thought he felt the tires rolling then applied the airbrake. He performed an emergency shutdown after the airplane came to rest on the runway, and all occupants exited the airplane. He (PIC) further reported that they did "many things wrong."

The owner of the airplane who was a passenger reported that none of the flightcrew members advised them before landing to prepare for an emergency landing. Additionally, he went into the cockpit immediately after the airplane came to rest and noticed 2 red lights and a green light; the green light was associated with the left main landing gear. The remaining adult passengers stated they heard sounds during the landing then saw smoke. There was no mention that the flightcrew advised them to prepare for an emergency landing.

According to the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) Factual Report, all inter-cockpit conversations were in Spanish, while conversations with air traffic control were in English. The audio quality of the communications recorded by the cockpit area microphone was reported to be good, which starts with the flight being cleared to descend to 10,000 feet, and ends with one of the flightcrew members advising the KFLL air traffic control tower (ATCT) that they were securing the airplane. No reading of a checklist was heard, and there was no sound associated with extension of the landing gear or landing gear warning horn during the entire recording. The summary transcription indicates that approximately 25 minutes 8 seconds into the CVR recording, a flightcrew member reported the field in sight. At 25 minutes 58 seconds into the CVR recording, the CVR recorded a discussion by the flightcrew about using full flaps for landing. At 27 minutes 57 seconds into the CVR recording, the CVR recorded a mechanical voice stating "five hundred" feet. The CVR then recorded the engine sound decreasing, and at 28 minutes 54 seconds into the CVR recording, a loud grinding sound started. The grinding sound continued for approximately 22 seconds, and stops at 29 minutes 16 seconds into the recording. The CVR then recorded a comment from the PIC asking what had happened to the landing gear. The CVR recorded the response from the co-pilot to be "we never put it down." The tower was then heard asking the flightcrew if they needed assistance, and one of the flightcrew members asked for assistance with moving the airplane off the runway. At 29 minutes 53 seconds into the CVR recording, the CVR recorded a cockpit conversation in which one of the passengers asks about the incident and the captain reported that the landing gear folded when he lowered the nose to the runway, and that the red light is on in the gear handle. At 32 minutes 39 seconds into the recording, the CVR recorded one of the flightcrew members advising the KFLL ATCT that they were going to secure the airplane.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The pilot-in-command (PIC) seated in the left seat was issued a FAA commercial pilot certificate with airplane single and multi-engine land ratings on December 17, 1990. The limitations of the certificate indicates, "issued on basis of and valid only when accompanied by Mexican pilot license number 1929. Not valid for the carriage of persons or property for compensation or hire or for agricultural aircraft operations." The PIC did not have a type rating for the accident airplane make and model, which is contrary to 14 CFR Part 61.31 (a)(2), nor did he have an instrument rating, which is contrary to 14 CFR Part 61.3(e((1), for operation of an airplane under IFR. There was no record of a U.S. issued medical certificate. The PIC's last flight proficiency check occurred in July 2005, in which he received 10 hours of training in the accident make and model airplane at Tornado Flight School, Mexico City, Mexico. FAA regulation 14 CFR Part 61.58(a)(1) requires a flight proficiency check each 12 calendar months.

The co-pilot seated in the right seat was issued a FAA private pilot certificate with airplane single and multi-engine land ratings on January 5, 2006. The limitations of the certificate indicates, "issued on basis of and valid only when accompanied by Mexico pilot license number(s) 200302963. All limitations and restrictions on the Mexico pilot license apply." The co-pilot did not have an instrument rating on his private pilot certificate, which is contrary to 14 CFR Part 61.55(a)(2) for operation of an airplane under IFR. He was issued a U.S. first class medical certificate with no restrictions on April 10, 2006.

The co-pilot on the accident flight replaced another pilot who was scheduled to perform the flight but became ill.

Numerous requests were made by NTSB to the Mexican Government regarding Mexican pilot certificate information. The Mexican Government did not respond to the NTSB's requests.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The airplane was manufactured in 1978 by British Aerospace Aircraft Group, as model HS 125-700A, with modification number 258332. It was designated constructors reference number NA 0232, which correlates to serial number 257043. It was certificated in the transport category. The 10 passenger-seat airplane was equipped with retractable landing gears, and an audible landing gear warning which sounds when the flaps are in the landing position (45 degrees), the landing gear selector handle is in the up position, and one or both thrust levers are below the 60 percent rpm position.

There is no direct functional test of the landing gear warning horn system that can be performed by the flightcrew before flight to determine the operational status of the landing gear warning horn; however, the cabin altitude warning system and the landing gear warning system share the same circuitry, including the CA relay and warning horn.

The airplane "Crew Manual" is divided into 3 volumes, with the first being aircraft systems descriptions, the second being operating data, and the third being "Pilot's Checklists." NTSB review of volume 1 revealed the cabin altitude warning horn is operationally tested during the "Before starting engines or APU" section found in the "Air Conditioning - Management in Normal Conditions" section. NTSB review of volume 3 of the Crew Manual revealed the "Pre Departure Check" checklist indicates a section titled "Test Panel" and describes to test each system.

Review of the maintenance records revealed a March 2006 entry which indicates that the 4 club seats, 1 attendant seat, 1 toilet seat, and one 3-place divan were redressed. The toilet seat was not equipped with a seatbelt. At the time of the accident, with respect to passenger seats, the airplane was equipped with 4 club seats, and two 3-place divans, which allowed for 10 passengers. There was no maintenance record entry or weight and balance associated with the cabin passenger seat change.

A handwritten list of 6 discrepancies was stapled to the outer page of the Aircraft Flight Log. None of the listed discrepancies pertained to the landing gear; however, two of the listed discrepancies indicates: "Both fuel indicators are Out/Service" and "Engine Number 1 ITT indicator [out of service]." The airplane owner reported that he was not personally aware of the discrepancies, and that his dispatcher would know what discrepancies were wrong with the airplane. The owner did state that he "always had maintenance performed in the U.S."

The FAA Master Minimum Equipment List (FAA MMEL) for the accident airplane make and model does not allow dispatching of an airplane with both fuel indicators inoperative, and also does not allow dispatching of the airplane with an inoperative ITT indicator.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

A surface observation weather report (METAR) taken at the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport on the day of the accident at 0153, or approximately 40 minutes before the accident, indicates the wind was from 330 degrees at 4 knots, the visibility was 10 statute miles, scattered clouds existed at 1,800 and 5,000 fe...