What happened
On February 5, 2023, a Learjet 60, registration N357WP, was performing an instrument flight rules (IFR) arrival at North Eleuthera International Airport in the Bahamas. The aircraft, operated by Hera Flight, had originated from Vero Beach, Florida. During the descent, the flight crew requested a lower altitude due to weather conditions.
As the aircraft approached the runway, the cockpit voice recorder captured a period of instability. The pilot flying was observed to be unfamiliar with the specific runway designation and the instrument approach procedures for the airport. During the final stages of the approach, the aircraft's Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) issued a "SINKRATE" alert, indicating an excessive descent rate. The pilot monitoring was heard urgently commanding the pilot flying to add power as the aircraft's speed fell 10 knots below the required landing reference speed.
Shortly after the initial touchdown, the aircraft experienced a forceful impact with the runway, momentarily became airborne, and then struck the ground a second time. While the aircraft sustained damage to the left main landing gear axle, trunnion support, and the left wing trailing edge, there were no injuries to the two crew members on board.
The investigation
The investigation by the AAID focused on the flight crew's performance and the technical parameters of the approach. Investigators analyzed the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder to reconstruct the final minutes of the flight. The inquiry examined the crew's adherence to the "Sterile Cockpit Rule," which prohibits nonessential communication during critical phases of flight. The investigation also reviewed the maintenance records of the Learjet 60, finding that the aircraft was properly maintained and that no mechanical malfunctions or airframe failures contributed to the event.
Findings
- The approach was unstabilized, characterized by an excessive descent rate and an airspeed significantly below the calculated landing reference speed.
- The pilot flying demonstrated inadequate familiarity with the destination airport's procedures and runway information.
- The crew failed to maintain a sterile cockpit, as the pilot flying engaged in nonessential conversation during a critical phase of flight.
- Crew resource management (CRM) was inadequate, as the pilot monitoring had to provide reminders during standard checklist execution.
- The aircraft sustained structural damage to the landing gear and ventral fins due to the forceful runway contact.