Admits He Was Flying Illegally In 2002 Crash

Court records in a Florida civil suit show the copilot of a Lear 25CXR admits he falsified his proficiency test results and was flying illegally when the aircraft went down more than two years ago, when it veered from the runway on landing at Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, KY. The patient on board that medical transport flight, 76-year old Louise Babb, was killed. Her husband, the flight crew and the attending nurse were all seriously injured.

Now, widower John Babb and his son, Mitchell Blumenfeld, are suing American Air Network, Air Ambulance Care Flight International, pilot Miles Lansing and copilot Jim Hensel, as well as companies that maintained the aircraft for what they call Louise Babb's wrongful death.

The flight, which originated at Marco Island, FL, was landing, when the NTSB finding takes up the story:

Shortly before landing, the crew confirmed that the hydraulic and emergency air pressures were "good", and that the circuit breakers on the "right and left" were in. In addition, the first officer reported "arming one and two."

The airplane (file photo of type, right) landed 1,000 - 1,500 feet from the landing threshold of runway 04, which was 7,003 feet in length. The captain utilized aerodynamic braking during part of the landing roll. About 3 seconds after touchdown, the first officer stated, "they're not deployed, they're armed only." About 6 seconds after touchdown, there was an increase in engine rpm. Shortly after that, there was an expletive from the captain. One and a half seconds later, there was another expletive. Slightly less than 2 seconds later, the captain told the first officer to "brake me," and 2.7 seconds after that, stated "emergency brake." About 4 seconds later, there was a "clunk", followed by a decrease in engine rpm 1 second later. Immediately after that, the captain stated, "we're going off the end."

The airplane subsequently dropped off an embankment at the end of the runway, impacted and descended through a localizer tower, then impacted the ground and slid across a highway. The airplane had been fitted with a conversion that included thrust reversers. An examination of the wreckage revealed that the thrust reversers were out of the stowed position, but not deployed. The drag chute was also not deployed. Brake calipers were tested with compressed air, and operated normally. Brake disc pads were measured, and found to be within limits. According to an excerpt from the conversion maintenance manual, reverser deployment was hydraulically actuated and electrically controlled.

T here was also an accumulator which allowed deploy/stow cycling in the event of hydraulic system failure. Interlocks were provided so that the reverser doors could not be deployed until the control panel ARM switch was on, the main throttle levers were in idle position, and the airplane was on the ground with the squat switches engaged. The previous crew reported no mechanical anomalies. Runway elevation rose by approximately 35 feet during the first 2/3 of its length, then decreased until it was 8 feet lower at its departure end. Winds were reported as being from 050 degrees true at 7 knots. At the airplane's projected landing weight, without the use of thrust reversers, the estimated landing distance was about 2,850 feet with the anti-skid operative, and 3,400 feet with the anti-skid inoperative.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:

The captain's addition of forward thrust during the landing rollout, which resulted in a lack of braking effectiveness and a subsequent runway overrun. A factor was the captain's inability to deploy the thrust reversers for undetermined reasons.

During a deposition last summer, Hensel was confronted with a check ride document dated June 22, 2002. The document indicated Hensel had passed.

"This entire document is one big giant lie, correct?," Chicago attorney David Rapoport asked.

"Correct," Hensel replied, according to the deposition. He then admitted that he lacked the "lawful qualification" necessary to fly that day.

So who "pencil-whipped" the check ride? An American Air official who, according to court records, continues to say he indeed gave Hensel that check ride.

"Crucial pilot records were intentionally falsified by one of the highest ranking officials" at the air carrier company," said the motion filed in a Pinellas County Circuit Court, FL and reported by the Lexington Herald-Leader. ”Pencil whipping records to show a pilot possesses qualifications he really lacks is despicable and dangerous conduct that compromises public safety," the motion said.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov