What happened
On October 18, 2010, at approximately 12:56 EDT, a Shorts SC7 Skyvan, registration N80GB, veered off runway 9 right at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (FLL) in Florida. The aircraft, operated by GB Airlink Inc., was performing a non-revenue positioning flight from Grand Bahama International Airport (MYGF) for the purpose of flight training.
During the landing, the pilot in the left seat—who was performing his first flight and landing in this aircraft type—maintained control of the braking and brought the propeller control levers to the full beta (reverse) range. Following the application of reverse thrust, the aircraft began to veer to the left. The pilot attempted to correct the direction using the tiller wheel, but the aircraft exited the runway and struck a runway sign. The aircraft came to a stop in a grassy area approximately 40 feet from the left side of the runway. There were no injuries to the crew, and the aircraft sustained minor damage, including a torn and wrinkled nose cone.
The investigation
The investigation included statements from the operator's check pilot. The check pilot confirmed that the flight was an instructional flight for the new pilot. The analysis noted that while the landing itself was unremarkable and the pilot was in control of the braking, the aircraft's trajectory changed immediately after the propeller controls were moved into the reverse position.