Wed, Jul 23, 2008
Full-Forward CG, Nose-Down Trim Led To 2005 TEB Crash
Stating a potentially dangerous situation could arise for pilots
of Bombardier Challenger jets when trying to take off under certain
weight and pitch trim conditions, this week the National
Transportation Safety Board issued two recommendations to the FAA
Federal Aviation Administration to step up training methods and
operating guidelines for the aircraft.
The Board cites the February 2, 2005 takeoff crash of a
Challenger at New Jersey's Teterboro Airport in making its
recommendations.
As ANN reported, the National Transportation
Safety Board determined that the probable cause was the flight
crew's attempt to take off with the center of gravity (c.g.) well
forward of the forward takeoff limit, which prevented the airplane
from rotating at the expected rotation speed.
"During the Safety Board’s investigation, vehicle
performance engineers conducted simulator tests to study takeoff
rotation characteristics of the CL-600, as configured at the time
of the Teterboro accident, as well as for a normal takeoff and a
mistrim-takeoff," writes the NTSB in its latest recommendation.
"They found that in the mistrim scenario, with the c.g. at the most
forward limit and with the horizontal stabilizer at the nose-down
limit of the takeoff green band, the airplane did not rotate, even
with full nose-up elevator control, until it was significantly
above the nominal rotation speed (VR, that is, the speed at which
the pilot applies elevator control to rotate the airplane for
takeoff)."
The Safety Board is concerned that the delayed rotation
characteristics of this condition may cause pilots to believe that
their airplanes will not fly, leading them to abort takeoff at a
speed well above the takeoff-decision speed (V1), with possible
catastrophic results," the Board concludes.
The recommendations -- available in full at the FMI link below
-- include new language addressing an earlier European Joint
Aviation Authorities Notice of Proposed Amendment to be placed in
an advisory circular on the mistrim issue, as well as providing
Challenger flight crews with addition training emphasizing proper
stabilizer trim settings and the possible results of mistrim
situations.
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