Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
Lincoln Muni Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Lincoln, Nebraska 68524
Tuesady, January 8, 2008 17:45 CST
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
Two days before the incident flight, the airplane was placed in maintenance for a "[Left/Hand Main Landing Gear] swivel valve leaking." The corrective action was accomplished by one of the operator's mechanics. The mechanic reportedly removed both the swivel valves on the left main landing gear. The aft swivel valve was removed and replaced with a new valve. The forward valve was removed and reinstalled. That valve was checked for leaks and the airplane was returned to service prior to the incident flight. The airplane, on a non-scheduled domestic passenger flight, was taxiing after landing, exited the taxiway, and became stuck in snow and mud despite the pilot's attempts to maintain directional control. The captain reported a total loss of all hydraulic systems. The airplane's maintenance manual 32-41-61 contained a warning that stated, "WARNING: MAKE SURE THAT THE SWIVEL JOINT AND HYDRAULIC LINES ARE ORIENTED AS SHOWN ... . THE HYDRAULIC LINE TO THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY MUST BE CONNECTED TO THE SWIVEL HOUSING AND THE HYDRAULIC LINE FROM THE ANTI-SKID VALVE TO THE SWIVEL FITTING AS SHOWN ... . IF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE SWIVEL AND THE HYDRAULIC LINES ARE ROTATED 180 DEGREES, THE HYDRAULIC LINES CAN BE CONNECTED BUT THE SWIVEL WILL NOT OPERATE. THIS CAN CAUSE THE HYDRAULIC LINES TO BREAK DURING EXTENSION AND RETRACTION AND CAUSE THE BRAKES PRESSURE TO BE LOST." Examination of the swivel valves after the incident revealed that both valves were not installed as depicted in the maintenance manual.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
The improper installation of the swivel valve fittings by the operator's mechanic leading to the total loss of both hydraulic systems. Contributing to the incident were the swivel valves leaking and the total failure of the hydraulic system.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Incident |
| Event Date | 1/8/2008 |
| Event Day of the Week | Tuesday |
| Time of Event | 1745 |
| Event Time Zone | Central Standard Time |
| Event City | Lincoln |
| Event State | NEBRASKA |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 68524 |
| Event Date Year | 2008 |
| Event Date Month | 1 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | 405105N |
| Event Location Longitude | 0964555W |
| Event Location Airport | LINCOLN MUNI |
| Event Location Nearest Airport ID | LNK |
| Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport | On Airport |
| Distance from airport in statute miles | 0 |
| Degrees magnetic from airport | -- |
| Airport Elevation | 1219 |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | -- |
| Investigator's weather source | Weather Observation Facility |
| Time of the weather observation | 1654 Central Standard Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | 0 |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | LNK |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 1219 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | 0 |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | CST |
| Lighting Conditions | Night |
| Lowest Ceiling Height | -- |
| Lowest Non-Ceiling Height | -- |
| Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions | Clear |
| Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling | None |
| Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) | -- |
| Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) | -- |
| Visibility (Statute Miles) | 10 |
| Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) | 3 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | -5 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 280 |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Wind direction could be determined |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 6 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | -- |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Gusting |
| Wind Gust (knots) | 0 |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 30.06 |
| Density Altitude (feet) | -- |
| Intensity of Precipitation | -- |
| METAR weather report | -- |
| Event Highest Injury | None |
| On Ground, Fatal Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Minor Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Serious Injuries | -- |
| Injury Total Fatal | -- |
| Injury Total Minor | -- |
| Injury Total None | 38 |
| Injury Total Serious | -- |
| Injury Total All | -- |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | 23919 |
| NTSB Notification Source | FAA |
| NTSB Notification Date | Jan 8 2008 12:00AM |
| NTSB Notification Time | -- |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | DMS |
| Date of most recent change to record | Jul 30 2008 9:00AM |
| User who most recently changed record | NTSB\johb |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | Lincoln, NE, FSDO |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N733TW |
| NTSB Number | CHI08IA065 |
| Missing Aircraft Indicator | -- |
| Federal Aviation Reg. Part | Part 121: Air Carrier |
| Type of Flight Plan filed | IFR |
| Flight plan Was Activated? | Yes |
| Damage | None |
| Aircraft Fire | None |
| Aircraft Explosion | None |
| Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name | Boeing |
| Aircraft Model | 737-2H4 |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | -- |
| Aircraft Serial Number | 22732 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 116000 |
| Aircraft Category | Airplane |
| Aircraft Registration Class | -- |
| Aircraft is a homebuilt? | No |
| Flight Crew Seats | -- |
| Cabin Crew Seats | -- |
| Passenger Seats | -- |
| Total number of seats on the aircraft | 63 |
| Number of Engines | 2 |
| Fixed gear or retractable gear | Retractable |
| Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection | Continuous Airworthiness |
| Date of Last Inspection | Nov 1 2007 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | -- |
| Airframe Hours | 71959 |
| ELT Installed | Yes |
| ELT Activated | No |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | -- |
| ELT Type | -- |
| Aircraft Owner Name | SIERRA AMERICAN CORP |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | 2711 Centerville Road, Ste 120 PMB 5128 |
| Aircraft Owner City | Wilmington |
| Aircraft Owner State | DE |
| Aircraft Owner Country | USA |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 19808 |
| Operator is an individual? | No |
| Operator Name | Ameristar Air Cargo, Inc. |
| Operator Same as Owner? | No |
| Operator Is Doing Business As | -- |
| Operator Address Same as Owner? | No |
| Operator Street Address | -- |
| Operator City | Addison |
| Operator State | TX |
| Operator Country | USA |
| Operator Zip code | 75001 |
| Operator Code | MJYA |
| Owner has at least one certificate | -- |
| Other Operator of large aircraft? | -- |
| Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation | -- |
| Operator Certificate Number | -- |
| Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not | Non-scheduled |
| Indicates Domestic or International Flight | Domestic |
| Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail | Passenger Only |
| Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) | -- |
| Second Pilot on Board | Yes |
| Departure Point Same as Event | No |
| Departure Airport Code | AUS |
| Departure City | AUSTIN |
| Departure State | TX |
| Departure Country | USA |
| Departure Time | 1559 |
| Departure Time Zone | -- |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | crash at destination city |
| Destination Airport Code | -- |
| Destination City | Lincoln |
| Destination State | NE |
| Destination Country | USA |
| Specific Phase of Flight | Taxi - from landing |
| Report sent to ICAO? | -- |
| Evacuation occurred | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Jul 14 2008 5:07PM |
| User who most recently changed record | BOWL |
| Since inspection or accident | Time of Accident |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | 36 |
| Runway Length | 12901 |
| Runway Width | 200 |
| Sight Seeing flight | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |