What happened
On August 18, 2002, a Learjet 35A, registration EC-GXX, operated by Sky Service Aviation S.L., arrived at Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport with structural damage discovered upon arrival. The flight, a repositioning mission, originated from Biarritz, France.
The sequence of events began on August 17, when the crew performed a flight from Malaga to Avila, Spain. During the approach to Avila, the aircraft experienced a heavy landing. Although the crew conducted an external inspection immediately following the landing and found no visible damage, the aircraft continued its operations the following day with a flight from Avila to Biarritz.
During the final leg from Biarritz to Olbia, the aircraft encountered intense turbulence for approximately three minutes during the descent phase. Upon landing at Olbia, the crew performed a post-flight inspection and identified structural damage, specifically corrugation of the fuselage near the wing attachment points. The crew subsequently requested a detailed technical inspection of the airframe.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation examined the flight history, maintenance records, and meteorological conditions. The investigation noted that the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) was not functioning during the flight, as indicated by a warning light that had activated during the landing in Biarritz. Consequently, FDR data could not be analyzed.
Investigators reviewed the weather reports for Olbia, which confirmed the presence of towering cumulus clouds at 2,000 feet and a thunderstorm in the area shortly before the aircraft's arrival. The investigation also focused on the structural integrity of the wing-to-fuselage interface.
Findings
- The structural deformation, characterized by corrugation at the wing attachment points, is consistent with the high stresses caused by the heavy landing previously experienced in Avila.
- The subsequent encounter with severe turbulence during the flight to Olbia likely exacerbated or made the existing structural damage more visible.
- There were no injuries to the two crew members on board.