HOUSTON, TX, USA
N66HA
HAWKER SIDDELEY DH-125-3A
DURING LANDING, UPON NOSE WHEEL CONTACT WITH THE RUNWAY, DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST AND THE AIRCRAFT EXITED THE RUNWAY HARD SURFACE AND CROSSED A DITCH COLLAPSING THE NOSE GEAR. THE CREW STATED THAT FULL LEFT RUDDER AND DIFFERENTIAL BRAKING WOULD NOT STOP THE RIGHT DRIFT, AND THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN GRASS UNCONTROLLABLE BY THE TIME THE STEERING TILLER WAS REACHED. THE NOSE WHEEL STEERING SYSTEM WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED BY THE IMPACT SEQUENCE WHEN THE NOSE WHEEL WELL AFT BULKHEAD WAS FORCED INTO THE STEERING ASSEMBLY. THE PILOT STATED THAT IF HE HAD BEEN 'SPRING LOADED TO THE TILLER' THAT HE COULD HAVE POSSIBLY KEPT THE AIRCRAFT OFF THE GRASS.
FAILURE OF THE NOSE WHEEL STEERING SYSTEM FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS, AND THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S HESITATION REACHING FOR THE NOSE WHEEL STEERING TILLER. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN A DH-125.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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