Chad is the editor of AINalerts, AIN's daily business aviation newsletter, and is also the news editor at AIN Media Group.&nbsp;He has been writing about aviation, with an emphasis on business aviation, since 1994. Chad started his writing career at The Avion,&nbsp;the&nbsp;student newspaper at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, serving as editor-in-chief before graduating with a bachelor's in aeronautical science. After a stint as managing editor at Professional Pilot&nbsp;magazine, he joined&nbsp;AIN in late 1998. Chad holds a commercial pilot certificated with instrument and multi-engine ratings, and he also is a CFI/CFII. He lives and works from his home in Venice, Florida.

Online Editor

Chad Trautvetter

The fatal crash of a U.S. Air Force special-mission Bombardier Global Express on Jan. 27, 2020, was caused by the flight crew’s error in determining which Rolls-Royce BR710 engine had catastrophically failed and subsequently shutting down the working, right-hand-side powerplant, according to a USAF Aircraft Accident Investigation Board (AIB) report released yesterday. Contributing factors were the crew’s failure to airstart the right-hand-side engine and their decision to “recover the aircraft to Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan.”

 


Designated as&nbsp;E-11A by the USAF, the aircraft suffered an in-flight failure of the left engine one hour and 45 minutes after takeoff. A fan blade broke free from the left engine, causing the left engine to shut down. “Approximately 24 seconds after the initial incident, the crew shut down the right, and only operable, engine, resulting in a dual-engine-out emergency,” the USAF said. “The aircraft was approximately 230 nm from Kandahar Airfield when the dual engine out occurred, and neither engine airstarted to provide any usable thrust.”

 


The crew issued a mayday call to air traffic control stating they had dual engine failure and intended to proceed to Kandahar. However, the jet was outside of the gliding distance to reach Kandahar and, because of the crew’s decision to return there, flew outside of gliding distance to other available landing locations. The crew subsequently attempted to glide toward Forward Operating Base Sharana but landed&nbsp;in a field approximately 21 nm short of this base. Both pilots were killed and the aircraft was destroyed.

 


Due to aircraft vibrations and the dual engine failure, both the cockpit voice recorder and the digital flight data recorder stopped recording for the majority of the accident sequence.

News about significant aircraft accidents and information from accident reports.

Wrong Engine Shutdown Causes Global Express Fatal

A fatal crash of a USAF-operated Global Express was caused by the crew's error in identifying the failed powerplant and shutting down the operating engine.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

AmyWilder

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Hawker crew did not respond to controller’s orders

NTSB Prelim Points To Distraction in Bizjet Collision

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

 Failure to heed advisories, pilot-induced oscillations led to fatality

NTSB: Crew Errors Led to Fatal Injury Onboard Challenger

David Jack Kenny

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Preliminary and final accident reports, December 2024

Business Aircraft Accident Reports: December 2024

Charles Alcock

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

News and information about crew, passenger, aircraft and airport security issues.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

More In Accidents

NTSB Prelim Points To Distraction in Bizjet Collision

Hawker crew did not respond to controller’s orders

NTSB: Crew Errors Led to Fatal Injury Onboard Challenger

Failure to heed advisories, pilot-induced oscillations led to fatality

Business Aircraft Accident Reports: December 2024

Preliminary and final accident reports, December 2024

Swiftair 737 Freighter Crashes On Approach to Vilnius

Spanish charter carrier was operating flight for express package group DHL

Bombardier Safety Standdown: Surviving the Fire

Preparation and training resulted in a survivable accident

Five Killed in HondaJet Rejected Takeoff Crash at KFFZ

Aircraft caught fire and burned after hitting a vehicle

Business Aircraft Accident Reports: November 2024

Preliminary and final accident reports, November 2024

Year-to-date Bizav Accidents Decline

Fatal accidents were down year over year from 12 to 10

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