N528DV

On September 20, 2022, about 0709 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 525B, jet airplane, N528DV, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Pasco, Washington. The pilot and 9 passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 business flight.

The pilot reported that the flight to Tri-Cities Airport (PSC), Pasco, Washington, was uneventful; he reported to the tower controller that the airport was in sight and requested to land on runway 03L. The pilot further reported that, while on left base, he lowered the flaps to the first notch (takeoff/approach setting) and started to extend the gear handle. He did not recall confirming whether the gear was down and locked but reported that there were no landing caution annunciation or aural warnings. He said the flaps remained at the 15° setting for the approach. Before making contact with the runway, the pilot noticed that the airplane floated longer than expected and upon touchdown realized that the landing gear was not extended.

The airplane slid down the runway and came to a stop near the departure end of the runway. The pilot secured the engines and assisted the passengers out of the airplane. During the evacuation, the pilot reported that the airplane was on fire near the right engine. Shortly thereafter, the airplane was engulfed in flames.

A video of the landing recorded from the right front seat in the cockpit revealed that throughout the duration of the recording the engines sounded normal, there were no aural warnings, and no passenger or crew dialogue were noted. The airplane was on final approach to runway 03L and as the airplane touched down, sounds consistent with the underside of the aircraft contacting and sliding down the runway were noted. The turnoff markings for taxiway Charlie were visible just above the glareshield. About 20 seconds after contact with the runway, the amber master caution light briefly illuminated. A few seconds later the amber master caution light briefly illuminated again and the runway 21R markings were visible just above the glareshield. The video recording did not capture the airplane coming to rest or the evacuation.

Two witnesses observed the airplane as it landed. The tower controller, using binoculars, noticed that the airplane did not have its landing gear extended and its bottom looked flush just before touchdown. However, the controller did not have enough time to notify the pilot. Another witness, who was working at the airport, observed that the airplane was coming in faster than he had seen in the past and did not have its landing gear out.

When the airplane was recovered, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector observed that when the airplane was raised from the runway, all three-landing gear were free from their uplocks and dropped down to the extended position. In addition, a review of the accident pictures revealed that the left main landing gear door was partially extended on the runway when the airplane came to rest. The right main landing gear door position could not be determined from the pictures.

The examination of runway 03L revealed that the airplane touched down about 3,000 ft past the runway threshold and continued to skid until it came to rest about 160 ft past the runway threshold for the departure runway. Remnants of the skid were seen throughout the landing roll.

A review of the ADS-B data revealed that the airplane’s groundspeed was about 143 knots as it passed over the runway threshold. Since the wind was reported calm, the airplane’s airspeed would be about equivalent to its groundspeed.

A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed significant thermal damage to a majority of the fuselage, the left wing, and the inboard portion of the right wing. On the bottom portion of the fuselage, the auxiliary landing gear skid was observed to be worn. Both of the main landing gear uplock hooks were observed in the gear release (unlocked) position. The left main landing gear down lock was examined and no anomalies were noted. The right main landing gear uplock hook end was separated consistent with impact damage. In the cockpit, the flaps indicator showed the flap setting between the takeoff/approach and landing position. All circuit breakers were in, and the landing gear handle was in the down, extended position. Additionally, the emergency landing gear extension handle was observed in the stowed position.

The landing gear handle was examined and revealed no evidence of failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The landing gear printed circuit boards were tested and revealed no anomalies. Additionally, the engine FADECs were evaluated and revealed that no exceedances were recorded and that both engines were operating normally on the day of the accident.

According to the airplane’s flight and operating manuals:

When the gear handle is moved to the DOWN position hydraulic fluid is routed through the uplocks to release them, and then to the extend side of the actuating cylinders. The green LH, RH, and NOSE gear indicating lights illuminate as each gear locks down.

A landing gear or tone audio warning is provided by the warning/caution advisory system if either of the following conditions occur, and the landing gear are not down.

- Airspeed below 130 KIAS and either throttle is below approximately 85% N2 . Warning can be silenced.

- Flaps are extended beyond the takeoff and approach setting. Warning cannot be silenced.

-VAPP - The landing approach airspeed (1.23 VSR1) with flaps 15°, landing gear up.

-VSR1 – The stalling speed or minimum steady flight speed obtained in the specific configuration.

The landing Distance – Feet chart depicted at 12,400 pounds and a temperature of 10° C, the VAPP speed was 116 KIAS.

According to the FAA Airplane Flying Handbook:

Pilots may consider the following elements when attempting to set up and fly a stabilized approach to landing. The pilot should focus on the elements that lead to a stabilized approach rather than the order of the elements or the insistence on meeting all of the approach criteria. For a typical piston aircraft, an approach is stabilized when the following criteria are met:

Airspeed. The aircraft speed is within +10 /-5 KIAS of the recommended landing speed specified in the AFM.

Configuration. The aircraft is in the correct landing configuration with flaps as required; landing gear extended and is in trim.