Flight Training - June 2024 - 44

ADVANCED PILOT CAREER PILOT
A high-energy scenario was unfolding
as the G150 approached the 4,200-foot
runway, which seemed to raised the attention
of the SIC. He suggested S-turns, but
the PIC refused. At 1.5 miles on final, the
airplane was at 900 feet agl and indicating
170 knots, 50 knots above the landing
reference speed.
" Sink rate " was announced by the airplane's
ground proximity warning system,
to which the PIC replied, " we know it. " A
few more " sink rate " warnings and a " pull
up " sounded as the SIC called an airspeed
of 150 knots. At 200 feet, the SIC said the
airspeed was 130 knots and the captain
replied, " Yup, slowing. " It touched down
about 1,000 feet down the runway.
During the landing roll, the PIC
'THIS IS NASCAR'
A HURRIED APPROACH LEADS TO AN AVOIDABLE MISHAP
BY PETER A. BEDELL
AN ISRAEL AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES
Gulfstream G150 was heavily damaged in
May 2021 after its two pilots allowed a dangerous
distraction into their operation of
the business jet. Hurrying-combined with
a mechanical failure and poor decision
making-led to a runway overrun while
landing at the Ridgeland-Claude Dean
Airport in Ridgeland, South Carolina.
Originating in New Smyrna Beach,
Florida, the flight was planned to be no
more than about 40 minutes. We don't
know whether there was time pressure
placed on the crew before the flight, but
the National Transportation Safety Board
(NTSB) report mentions that a passenger
inquired about the arrival time while in
flight. The report stated that the pilot in
command (PIC) replied, " I'll speed up. I'll
go real fast here. "
The crew seemed to take as a challenge
that there was another business jet on the
frequency also heading to Ridgeland. The
PIC remarked to the second in command
(SIC) that " they'll slow to 250 below 10
and we won't. " Recall that the airspeed
limit in the United States is 250 knots
below 10,000 feet. On the cockpit voice
recorder (CVR), the SIC remarked that
44 FLIGHT TRAINING JUNE 2024
the airspeed was 300 knots at 9,000 feet,
perhaps indicating a bit of trepidation
at the blatant violation of regulations.
Apparently, however, he wasn't swayed
enough to push back on the PIC. In fact,
he seemed to become a willing accomplice.
" We know what we're doing right
now, we're trying to win a race, " the PIC
continued.
" That's right, " the SIC replied.
" This is NASCAR, " said the PIC, followed
by laughter.
As the descent continued, the overspeed
warning tone was captured multiple
times by the CVR, at one point continuing
for eight seconds.
" Goal achieved, " said the PIC in
response to the warning.
" Final lap, " the SIC replied.
Continuing the hurry-up plan, the
crew planned to land straight in to
Runway 36 at Ridgeland because of their
impression that the winds were light out
of the west based on an observation from
another airport. The controller informed
the crew that they would be number one
for the airport; the PIC passed on the news
to the passengers despite sterile-cockpit
rules that apply below 10,000 feet.
stated, " Come on T-Rs " in reference to
the deployment of the thrust reversers
followed by an expletive. The airplane ran
400 feet past the end of the runway into
marshy, wet terrain that partially sheared
the right main landing gear and nose
landing gear.
A ground observer had recorded video
of the landing (youtube.com/watch?v=WpyP5aFobtI),
providing a wealth of insight
into what happened. The windsock clearly
showed a quartering tailwind at times fully
extended, indicating gusts to 15 knots. The
video also revealed that neither the ground
nor flight spoilers extended. Spoilers are
critical for killing lift and getting weight
on the wheels for effective braking. The
NTSB report noted that most of the tire
tread marks on the runway were inconsistent
with heavy braking and anti-skid
operation except for the last 1,000 feet of
pavement. This aligns with little weight on
the wheels from lack of spoilers.
Why the spoilers did not deploy
automatically at touchdown is a bit of a
mystery. Switches that control them were
armed and if the parameters for weight
on wheels and throttle position were
met, they should have worked. Perhaps,
if everything worked as it was supposed
to, this crew may have been able to stop
before the end of the runway. Clearly,
however, the high-energy approach, the
lack of spoilers, and tailwind assured that a
successful outcome was doomed. The lack
of professionalism by the crew may have
doomed their careers as well. FT
PETER A. BEDELL is a pilot for a major
airline and is co-owner of a Cessna 172 and
Beechcraft Baron.
NEIL WEBB
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wpyp5afobti http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wpyp5afobti
Flight Training - June 2024

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