History of Flight
On January 28, 2019, at 20:08 central standard time, Kalitta Charters II, LLC flight 720, a Boeing 727-2B6 (N720CK), landed with the nose gear retracted on runway 4 at Tuscaloosa Regional Airport (TCL), Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The aircraft was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 as a cargo flight from Laredo International Airport (LRD), Laredo, Texas. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The captain was the pilot flying.
The flight departed LRD at 18:26 CST on an IFR flight plan, with no reported irregularities during takeoff or en route. At 19:58, the Birmingham Approach controller advised the crew of wind from 200 degrees at 4 knots, and the crew subsequently chose runway 4. At 20:01, the crew reported the airport in sight and were cleared for the visual approach. No communication difficulties were noted.
Approximately 12 miles from the airport, the captain called for flaps 15 and gear down. After gear selection, the cockpit voice recorder captured the first officer stating, "yeah it's down, but [unintelligible] the lights." The crew observed a red warning light for the nose gear position and heard the audible gear warning horn. The captain queried the horn, and the first officer responded it was the gear warning horn.
The flight engineer recommended recycling the gear, but the captain declined. The first officer recommended a go-around for troubleshooting, but the captain also declined. Multiple automated "sink rate, pull up" warnings sounded, to which the captain responded, "yeah, yeah, I got it." The first officer again asked about going around, and the captain replied, "ah I'm gonna go… I got, it, I got it."
The captain stated that the airplane had a history of a microswitch issue and pressed on the gear handle and light. As power was reduced to idle, the gear warning horn and GPWS alerts sounded. In an interview, the captain mentioned he asked for gear recycling and smelled smoke, but these details were not corroborated by other crew or the CVR.
After landing, during derotation, the forward fuselage contacted the runway, and the airplane slid to a stop with the nose gear retracted. The captain remarked, "it wasn't down," and the first officer made a radio call to the tower. About five seconds later, the first officer said, "shoulda gone around," and the captain agreed.
Injuries and Damage
No injuries occurred among the three flight crew and one non-revenue company mechanic. The aircraft sustained substantial damage: skin and stringers near the nose gear well were damaged, the nose gear assembly required replacement, and the forward pressure bulkhead was damaged. Minor damage to runway pavement was reported.
Personnel Information
The captain, aged 60, reported 23,700 total flight hours, including 6,800 hours in the Boeing 727. He held an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate for multiengine land and a commercial certificate for single-engine land, with type ratings for the Boeing 727, 737, 757, and 767. He was hired by Kalitta Charters II, LLC on September 30, 2017. His last simulator proficiency check was on September 22, 2018. He had flown 104 hours in the preceding 90 days and 6 hours in the preceding 30 days.
The first officer, aged 46, held an ATP certificate for multiengine land and a commercial certificate for single-engine land, with type ratings for the Boeing 727 and Cessna Citation (CE-500). He was hired on July 11, 2018, and completed line operating experience on November 13, 2018. His total flight time was 1,850 hours, with 105 hours in the Boeing 727.
The flight engineer, aged 60, held a Flight Engineer certificate with a turbojet powered rating and an Airframe and Powerplant certificate. He was hired on December 2, 2013, and logged 315 hours as a flight engineer in the past 12 months.
Aircraft Information
The accident aircraft, a Boeing 727-2B6 (serial number 21298), was manufactured in 1977 and equipped with three Pratt & Whitney JT8D-15 engines. Its maximum gross weight was 194,800 lbs; at the time of landing, it weighed 145,049 lbs. The last continuous airworthiness inspection was on January 20, 2019, and total airframe hours were 57,932.
The nose landing gear was removed and replaced on February 12, 2010. The nose gear actuator was replaced on April 8, 2017, after a discrepancy report that the nose gear would not extend and required cycling. The nose gear operates via System A hydraulic pressure; the aircraft operations manual notes that simultaneous operation of landing gear and flaps at low engine RPM may cause insufficient pressure for proper nose gear transfer cylinder operation.
One day prior to the accident, a different flight crew experienced a nose gear indication issue while landing at TCL. After selecting gear down, they received a red warning light and no green down-and-lock indication. They cycled the gear and obtained a green indication. The event was not recorded in the maintenance logbook, but the captain of that flight informed the accident captain.
Meteorological and Airport Information
Night visual conditions prevailed, with wind from 200 degrees at 4 knots. Tuscaloosa Regional Airport (TCL) is located about 3 miles northwest of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, at an elevation of 170 feet mean sea level. Runway 4/22 is asphalt, 6,499 feet long and 150 feet wide. No abnormalities with the airport or facilities were reported.
Recorders and Wreckage
The cockpit voice recorder (CVR) captured the event with good audio quality, though HOT microphone information was not recorded. The flight data recorder provided poor-quality data; landing gear parameters were absent, and pressure altitude and airspeed values were erroneous.
A witness mark consistent with forward fuselage contact began on runway 4 about abeam taxiway A2 and ended at the stopping point abeam taxiway A1, leaving 458 feet of runway remaining.
Organizational Information
Kalitta Charters II, LLC, based in Ypsilanti, Michigan, operated as a Part 121 cargo airline providing just-in-time automotive industry service. The carrier operated a fleet of five Boeing 727 aircraft and nine other airplanes, employing 69 pilots (30 captains and 39 first officers).