Gary Mishler
March 25th 05, 10:44 PM
From Aviation International News:
Bombardier Points to Cause of Tupelo Challenger Overrun
It's probable that a bent-down microphone jack receptacle near the base of
the copilot's control column prevented aft movement of the yoke, causing a
Challenger 600 to overrun the runway during takeoff from Tupelo Regional
Airport, Miss., on March 9, according to a Bombardier Advisory Wire sent to
operators of 600-series Challengers. "An inspection of the copilot control
column revealed that the hand-held microphone jack receptacle (installed
with two screws through a bracket on the lower side of the receptacle)
mounted on the lower aft side of each control column approximately one inch
from the bottom of the column was bent downwards," the March 13 advisory
says. "With the receptacle in this position, when the control column was
pulled aft, the receptacle contacted the control column cover and prevented
further aft movement of the column." Bombardier said it is not yet known how
it got bent, but apparently this receptacle is not an OEM installation. The
advisory adds, "The origin of the installation is not known at this time."
Bombardier recommended that if similar microphone jack receptacles are
installed on other Challengers, "pilots should verify the security of the
installation" as part of the preflight visual inspection of the cockpit.
Bombardier Points to Cause of Tupelo Challenger Overrun
It's probable that a bent-down microphone jack receptacle near the base of
the copilot's control column prevented aft movement of the yoke, causing a
Challenger 600 to overrun the runway during takeoff from Tupelo Regional
Airport, Miss., on March 9, according to a Bombardier Advisory Wire sent to
operators of 600-series Challengers. "An inspection of the copilot control
column revealed that the hand-held microphone jack receptacle (installed
with two screws through a bracket on the lower side of the receptacle)
mounted on the lower aft side of each control column approximately one inch
from the bottom of the column was bent downwards," the March 13 advisory
says. "With the receptacle in this position, when the control column was
pulled aft, the receptacle contacted the control column cover and prevented
further aft movement of the column." Bombardier said it is not yet known how
it got bent, but apparently this receptacle is not an OEM installation. The
advisory adds, "The origin of the installation is not known at this time."
Bombardier recommended that if similar microphone jack receptacles are
installed on other Challengers, "pilots should verify the security of the
installation" as part of the preflight visual inspection of the cockpit.