On May 23, 2022, a Cessna Aircraft Company Citation 560XLS + was involved in an aviation accident near Schwäbisch Hall, DE. No fatalities were reported. This summary draws on records from the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU).
A Cessna Citation 560XLS+ departed the runway at Schwäbisch Hall on 23 May 2022 after a right main gear tire burst during takeoff. The aircraft was lightly damaged, and no injuries were reported.
Incident Overview and Aircraft Details On 23 May 2022, a Cessna Citation 560XLS+ business jet operated a positioning flight without passengers from Schwäbisch Hall Airport (EDTY). The aircraft, built in 2011 and certified for commercial operation in Germany on 29 December 2011, was equipped with two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW545C engines. At the time of the incident, it had accumulated 3,694:52 flight hours and 4,702 takeoffs and landings. The Citation 560XLS+ variant features improved avionics, more powerful engines, and a redesigned nose compared to the previous 560XLS model, with a maximum takeoff mass of 9,163 kg. ## Sequence of Events At 13:50 local time, the flight crew initiated a takeoff roll on runway 28. The crew observed that the aircraft was accelerating significantly slower than normal. A tire burst occurred on the right main landing gear, causing the aircraft to veer to the right of the runway. According to crew descriptions and available visual material, the aircraft slid at low speed to the right and came to rest in the grass beside the runway with the nose gear and right main gear off the paved surface. ## Recorder Data and Findings Data from the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) indicated that the crew aborted the takeoff at a speed of approximately 59 knots. Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) audio at 13:50:52 included the statement: “The brake is applied!” The investigation determined that the parking brake had not been released during the takeoff. The right main gear tire was destroyed, with tire fragments found on the runway. The left main gear tire showed visible wear marks. The aircraft sustained light damage, and both pilots were uninjured. No fire occurred. ## Crew and Operational Context The pilot-in-command was a 69-year-old holder of an EU ATPL(A) license with C560XL/XLS PIC IR privileges valid until 31 December 2022. He held a Class 1 medical certificate for commercial operations with a vision correction restriction, valid until 27 June 2022. His total flight experience was approximately 15,400 hours, including 3,500 hours on the Cessna 560XL. In the preceding 90 days, he had logged about 57 hours with 63 takeoffs and landings. The co-pilot was a 59-year-old holder of an EU ATPL(A) license with multiple type ratings, including C560XL/XLS PIC IR valid until 30 November 2022. His Class 1 medical certificate for commercial operations was valid until 30 October 2022. He had approximately 8,500 total flight hours, including 1,204 hours on the Cessna 560XL, and had logged about 27 hours with 31 takeoffs and landings in the previous 90 days. ## Meteorological and Airport Conditions At the time of the takeoff, visibility exceeded 10 km. Thunderstorm cells were present in the vicinity of the airport, prompting the crew to activate the weather radar on the ground. The 11:50 METAR for Schwäbisch Hall reported: 230950Z 14007KT 090V180 CAVOK 20/14 Q1005=. The 10:00 TAF forecasted: 230800Z 2309/2318 11006KT 9999FEW045 BECMG 2311/2313 24008KT PROB40 TEMPO 2311/2312 24020G35KT 3500 TSRA SCT035CB TEMPO 2314/2318 28035G50KT 3000 TSGRRA BKN020CB=. Schwäbisch Hall Airport is located at 1,311 ft AMSL and features a concrete runway 1,660 m long and 30 m wide, oriented 097°/277° (10/28). The available takeoff distance for runway 28 was 1,540 m. The airport also has a 750 m grass runway and is certified for aircraft with a maximum takeoff mass up to 14 t. ## Additional Safety Information The report notes that multiple international incidents, some serious, have involved the parking brake on Cessna 560XL/XLS aircraft. Investigating authorities found that an applied or incompletely released parking brake was not indicated by a cockpit warning light and was not integrated into the takeoff configuration warning system. The manufacturer had offered a retrofit solution that was later withdrawn from the market. The parking brake lever position cannot be seen from the right seat when the left seat is occupied. Safety recommendations have been issued by the Australian, Nigerian, and US aviation safety authorities. The most recent NTSB safety recommendation (NTSB-AIR-22-06), dated 4 May 2022, was directed to the FAA.