A CPR G2 FLC TAXIED INTO A MERLIN WHEN THEY FORGOT TO TURN ON THE HYD PUMP THAT SUPPLIES PRESSURE TO OPERATE THE BRAKES AND STEERING.
Synopsis
A CPR G2 FLC TAXIED INTO A MERLIN WHEN THEY FORGOT TO TURN ON THE HYD PUMP THAT SUPPLIES PRESSURE TO OPERATE THE BRAKES AND STEERING.
Narrative
AT APPROX XA30 HRS ON MAR/WED/98; I WAS CAPT OF A GULFSTREAM G2. AS I BEGAN MY TAXI TO REPOSITION THE ACFT FROM ONE FBO TO ANOTHER AT THE SUS ARPT AFTER COMPLETING A FLT I EXPERIENCED INABILITY TO DIRECT THE ACFT WITH THE NOSEWHEEL STEERING. I HAD RECEIVED SEVERAL INFO LETTERS FROM GULFSTREAM AND HAD READ SEVERAL ACCOUNTS OF NOSEWHEEL STEERING PROBS IN INDUSTRY PUBS OVER THE LAST FEW WKS. AS I STRUGGLED TO CTL THE DIRECTION OF THE ACFT'S PROGRESS I REALIZED THAT I HAD NO BRAKING AVAILABLE. BEFORE I COULD REMEDY THE SIT THE ACFT CAME IN CONTACT WITH A PARKED MERLIN. THE HYD PUMP THAT INITIATES BRAKING AND STEERING IS CTLED BY A SWITCH THAT IS NORMALLY TURNED ON AFTER STARTING THE L ENG. AS I WAS TAXIING WITH ONLY THE R ENG OPERATING; THE ACTION OF TURNING THIS PUMP ON WAS OMITTED AND THEREFORE LEFT ME WITHOUT BRAKES OR STEERING. MY OVERLY FOCUSED ATTN TO THE NOSEWHEEL STEERING EVENTS LEFT ME NO TIME TO RECTIFY THE BRAKE PROB TO PRECLUDE CONTACT WITH THE MERLIN. I AM FULLY AWARE AND KNOWLEDGEABLE OF HOW THIS SYS OPERATES AND CAN ONLY CITE THE COMBINATION OF A CHANGE FROM NORMAL DAILY ROUTINE PROCS AND A MINDSET NOT DIRECTED TOWARD FLT AS THE CAUSE FOR MY OVERSIGHT OF FAILING TO ACTIVATE THE SYS BEFORE LEAVING THE CHOCKS.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.