Incident Overview
On September 21, 2012, at approximately 1430 mountain daylight time, a Canadair Ltd. CL-600 Challenger business jet, registration N125PS, conducted an emergency landing at Denver International Airport. The flight crew reported smoke and fumes in the airplane, prompting the diversion. The aircraft was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 as an on-demand air taxi, registered to Joda LLC and operated by Worldwide Jet Charter LLC. The flight originated from Omaha, Nebraska, and was en route to Santa Monica, California. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and the flight operated on an instrument flight rules flight plan.
Crew and Passengers
The airplane carried two airline transport pilots, one crew member, and seven passengers. No injuries were reported, and the aircraft sustained no damage.
Detection and Evacuation
According to statements obtained by the Federal Aviation Administration, a crew member detected smoke near the galley area while en route. The flight crew decided to divert to Denver International Airport, where the aircraft landed without incident. Following landing, the crew ordered an emergency evacuation of the airplane.
Investigation and Examination
The operator, Worldwide Jet Charter, did not provide an NTSB Form 6120 as requested by the NTSB investigator-in-charge. The aircraft was equipped with a KC Aviation Custom Designed Water Heater (part number 444-0007, serial number 3058). The heater mat assembly was removed and sent to Bombardier in Montreal, Canada, for further examination, conducted under the auspices of the Transportation Safety Board of Canada. The examination revealed evidence of a loose contact pad that had shifted from its original position inside the thermostat. The pad had wedged itself between bimetallic strips, causing the heating mat to remain in the on position. This incident was similar to at least two other instances of heater mat overheating.