What happened
On May 2, 2000, a Learjet 35A, registration G-MURI, was conducting a non-scheduled passenger flight from Farnborough, United Kingdom, to Nice, France. While cruising at flight level 390, the aircraft experienced a failure of the left engine. The crew subsequently shut down the engine and declared an emergency, requesting a diversion to the nearest suitable airfield, which was identified as Lyon-Satolas.
The aircraft began a descent toward Lyon-Satolas under radar guidance. The crew established an ILS approach for runway 36L. During the final approach, the crew configured the aircraft by extending the landing gear and flaps. As the aircraft approached the runway threshold, the co-pilot noted that the aircraft was flying low and that the airspeed was 10 knots above the reference speed. The co-pilot requested additional power to correct the glide path. Shortly after, the commander reported losing control of the aircraft. The aircraft banked sharply to the left, the wing struck the ground, and the aircraft subsequently crashed and caught fire.
The investigation
The BEA investigation focused on the mechanical failure of the left engine and the flight dynamics during the final approach. Investigators examined the wreckage, including the engine components, the airframe, and the flight control surfaces. Specific technical analyses were performed on the left engine, specifically focusing on the number 5 bearing, the alarm panel, and the fuel transfer and interconnection valves. The investigation also reviewed radar data and cockpit voice recordings to reconstruct the sequence of events and the crew's management of the emergency.