Learjet 55 N554CL

Summary

On 15 July 2006 at about 23:30 local time, a Learjet 55 registered N554CL, operated by Clay Lacy Aviation, was involved in an accident near Van Nuys, California, United States. 5 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 July 2006 at 23:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Van Nuys, California, United States

Nearest airport

Van Nuys Airport (VNY)

Coordinates

34.2097, -118.4900

Aircraft

Learjet 55

Registration

N554CL

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Clay Lacy Aviation

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Las Vegas → Van Nuys

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX06FA238

Nobody was injured.

An in-flight fire of undetermined origins.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was about 500-600 feet above ground level (agl) on approach to landing when the emergency pressurization and right bleed air annunciator lights illuminated simultaneously. There was no change in the cabin pressurization, and the crew decided to continue and land. About 100-200 feet agl, the left bleed air light illuminated and the cabin pressure went to emergency. The crew switched the cabin air off. They landed, taxied quickly to their parking area, and turned the left and right bleed air switches off prior to engine shutdown. The flight line crew notified the flight crew that smoke was coming out of the ram air vent in the dorsal fin area. The pilot indicated that no smoke or smells entered the cabin or cockpit. He also pointed out that the air conditioner was blowing hot air and its operation appeared to be intermittent; the passengers had complained about the high temperature in the cabin. External visual examination revealed heat discoloration and wavy skin on the aft fuselage skin starting at station 512.39, frame 39, which extended aft to station 544.39, frame 41. Internal examination of the empennage in the tail cone access door revealed that frames 39, 39a, and 41 were scorched and sooty. In the aft E & E compartment in the tail cone, investigators observed fire damage to the windshield heat shutoff valve, left and right mixing valve control boxes and associated wiring, landing light/taxi light/auxiliary hydraulic pump relay box, upper side of the flow control valve, and the windshield heat shutoff valve and wiring. There was evidence of leakage and blow-by on the outflow flange of the windshield heat modulating valve; however, the observed damage was not as severe as would be expected if bleed air was the initiator of the fire. The evidence was inclusive for an electrical origin for the fire.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.