No fatalities

Smoke in Cockpit Prompts Diversion After Takeoff from Charleston (N451CA)

Raleigh Durham, NC, US

On August 13, 2003, a Bombardier CL600-2B19 (registration N451CA) was involved in an aviation accident near Raleigh Durham, NC. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Failure of a Hartman electrical relay. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards
Aircraft registered N451CA
Aircraft registered N451CA. Photo: Anthony92931 / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A flight crew experienced smoke in the cockpit shortly after takeoff from Charleston International Airport, prompting a diversion to Raleigh-Durham International Airport, where the aircraft landed safely. Maintenance traced the smoke to a failed Hartman electrical relay on the left utility bus.

Incident Overview

Following takeoff from Charleston International Airport, the flight crew detected smoke in the cockpit. The crew decided to divert the flight to Raleigh-Durham International Airport, where the aircraft landed without incident.

Findings

Post-flight maintenance examination revealed heat damage concentrated around the left utility bus electrical relay. Laboratory analysis of the relay determined that all thermal damage, including melting, charring, and arcing, originated either internally or on an external terminal of the relay. The source of the smoke was identified as the failure of a Hartman electrical relay.

Probable cause

Failure of a Hartman electrical relay.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 13 Aug 2003 Bombardier CL600-2B19 accident near Raleigh Durham, NC?

A flight crew experienced smoke in the cockpit shortly after takeoff from Charleston International Airport, prompting a diversion to Raleigh-Durham International Airport, where the aircraft landed safely. Maintenance traced the smoke to a failed Hartman electrical relay on the left utility bus.

Were there any fatalities in the 13 Aug 2003 Bombardier CL600-2B19 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 13 Aug 2003 involved a Bombardier CL600-2B19, registration N451CA, at Raleigh Durham, NC.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

Failure of a Hartman electrical relay.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20030822X01387. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.