AIRLIFE Denver - Non-injury incident

Date: 5/14/07 1335 MDT

Program: AIRLIFE Denver
	501 E. Hampden Avenue
	Englewood, CO 80113
	

Type: Lear Jet 25
Tail #: 251AL
Operator/Vendor: International Jet Aviation

Weather: Clear. Not a factor

Team: 2 Pilots, 1 Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, 1Flight RT. No injuries reported. Patient on board. 

Description: 
	While returning to Centennial Airport (APA), Englewood, CO from Rifle,
	CO with the neonatal team and a patient in the isolette on board, Lear
	Jet 251AL experienced a hydraulics failure.  The pilots reported that
	pre-flight brake checks on ground at Rifle and again at the end of
	the runway were normal. The take off was normal and then at between
	100 and 200 feet off the ground, the pilot called for the gear up and
	the hydraulic light illuminated red for ?low hydraulics.?  The
	hydraulic gauge reading was ?0? (normal is 1200-1500 psi).  PAIP was
	activated.  
	
	They flew at 23,000 MSL and at slower speeds with the gear in the
	down position and the flaps in the take off position (8 degrees vs 40
	degrees for landing).  The pilots reviewed the emergency checklists
	and rehearsed the emergency procedures (partial flap landing,
	alternate braking, etc) three to four times en route. Aircraft Fire
	Rescue (ARF) equipment responded as a precaution.  
	
	The pilots were handed off to APA approach and declared an emergency.
	 Approach Control handed the aircraft off to tower and it was given
	immediate landing clearance.  The aircraft took a longer approach to
	control speed.  They were unable to get more flaps to decrease speed,
	thus the approach was executed at higher than normal speed.  
	
	Upon landing they immediately tried the normal brake which failed. 
	Then the emergency brake was applied successfully.  The emergency
	drag chute was not deployed.  The pilots were able to slow the
	aircraft enough (3-4 mph) to make a slight turn off the runway and
	then shut down one engine to control speed.  When the aircraft was
	stopped and secured, the patient was offloaded to the CCT and the
	crew continued on to receiving hospital without incident.  
	
	The aircraft was taken out of service and the back up jet was placed
	in service within about an hour.  A debriefing occurred within an
	hour of the incident.  No trends were identified.  

Additional Info: 
	A post-incident maintenance inspection of 251AL revealed a failed "T
	fitting" which connects the aircraft hydraulic reservoir to the main
	hydraulic routing lines.  This is a single-piece aluminum die cast
	connector.  When the connector failed (during or shortly after
	takeoff), hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic reservoir and connecting
	lines was exhausted into the aft accessory compartment in the tail of
	the aircraft.  This left no hydraulic fluid to power the aircraft
	landing gear, flaps, spoilers, or brakes.  The Lear Jet 25 has
	redundant backup systems (using compressed air) for both landing gear
	and brakes.  Spoilers and flaps are not required critical components
	for landing as long as proper procedures are followed during the
	landing phase.  Since the landing gear (and partial flaps) were
	extended prior to the failure, the landing gear backup system did not
	need to be utilized.  Emergency backup brake actuation was utilized to
	bring the aircraft to a stop after landing.  
	
	The failed component has no moving parts and has no recommended
	replacement cycle or life expectation limit.  It appears to be a
	random failure.  IJA is in contact with the FAA regarding the
	failure.  A similar failure has not occurred in IJA 25+ years of
	operating Lear Jets.  

Source: Jana Williams, Program Director

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