Cessna Citation 550 Accident (Germany)

Date: 14-FEB-2010
Time: 19:20 GMT
Type: Cessna 550 Citation Bravo
Operator: Time Air
Registration: OK-ACH
C/n / msn: 550-1111
Fatalities:Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2
Airplane damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location: Schöna, about 40km south-east of Dresden - Germany
Phase: En route
Nature: Ferry/positioning
Departure airport: Prague Ruzynì Airport - LKPR
Destination airport: Karlstad Airport - ESOK

Narrative:
Details just breaking - please update; German air traffic control spokesman Axel Raab says the pilot of the Cessna 550 Citation, flight TIE039C, was given clearance to climb to a higher level after entering German airspace at 8.20 p.m. (1920GMT). However, the pilot never replied and the plane then disappeared from radar screens. Pieces of wreckage have been discovered near the village Schöna (Saxon - Osterzgebirge).

(Aviation-safety.net)

 SI_Release_020910_406STC_1_.pdf ( 499.98k ) Number of downloads: 66


UVALDE, TX – February 9, 2010 – STC ST09718AC has been issued to Sierra Industries by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the installation of the Artex C406 (406 MHz)Emergency Locator Transmitter on Cessna Citation Models 500, 501, 550, 551, S550 and 560.

This Supplemental Type Certificate provides a cost-effective solution for operators to update their
emergency transmitters to current standards.

Cessna closing 3 Columbus plants

COLUMBUS — Cessna Aircraft Co. says the company will close its three Columbus plants within six to 24 months.

.The Wichita, Kan.-based airplane manufacturer has employed as many as 600 people in Columbus. Cessna told its remaining 315 workers the news on Tuesday.

The Columbus operation assembles various parts that are shipped to Cessna facilities for assembly of small business jets and general aviation aircraft. Company spokesman Doug Oliver says that work will move to plants in Independence, Kan., and Mexico.

In August 2008, Cessna opened a $25 million, 100,000-square-foot plant in Columbus and announced plans for 150 jobs over five years. Instead, the company has steadily laid off workers in the down economy. A hundred cuts were announced in January, followed by 89 in April and 50 in August.

http://www.ajc.com/news/cessna-closing-3-c...bus-233889.html

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Cessna Aircraft delivers 300th Citation X

In 1996, golf legend Arnold Palmer took delivery of Cessna Aircraft’s first midsized Citation X business jet. Cessna delivered its 300th Citation X this week.

The jet was delivered to Cessna’s authorized sales representative, Jetalliance, based in Vienna, Austria. An unnamed retail customer will operate the plane from Vienna, Cessna said.

Cessna calls the Citation X the world’s fastest nonmilitary aircraft. It has a top speed of .92 Mach, just under the speed of sound. Since it’s launch, Cessna has delivered more than 45 Citation Xs to Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

http://blogs.kansas.com/aviation/2009/11/3...0th-citation-x/

FAA Issues Icing Rule After Circuit City Plane Crash in 2005

Nov. 21 (Bloomberg) -- The Federal Aviation Administration is proposing a rule that would require quicker activation of wing de-icing systems in response to the crash of a Circuit City Stores Inc. business jet in 2005.

The Cessna Citation 560 jet crashed as it approached Pueblo, Colorado, killing all eight people on board, because pilots let ice build up on the wings and didn’t maintain proper airspeed, the National Transportation Safety Board said in 2007.

The NTSB then recommended a rule requiring that de-icing systems be activated as soon as planes enter conditions conducive to ice buildup, and the FAA, in a notice to be published Nov. 23, proposes the change.

“The proposed rule would enhance passenger safety and prevent icing-related accidents,” John McGraw, FAA acting director of flight standards, wrote in a notice to be published in the Federal Register. Circuit City, a consumer-electronics retailer, has since liquidated its stores and is preparing to make a distribution to creditors.

Ice forming in flight has been a top concern of regulators because it robs aircraft of lift by disrupting airflow over the wings and creating drag. Special de-icing equipment to counter the threat must be activated by pilots, who may be unaware how close they are to falling from the sky.

In the Circuit City flight, a layer of ice accumulated on the front edge of the wings, causing the plane to lose lift, the NTSB said. The pilots failed to activate anti-ice devices or to follow flight-manual instructions to compensate by boosting airspeed, the board said.

Engage Systems

Pilots at the time were instructed to engage de-icing systems when buildup is between a quarter- and half-inch thick, the NTSB said in its 2007 recommendation for earlier activation.

The FAA proposal, which will have a 90-day public comment period, would affect planes weighing less than 60,000 pounds. The aircraft in the Circuit City accident was manufactured by Cessna, a unit of Providence, Rhode Island-based Textron Inc. Operators and manufactures would have two years to comply. Cessna is based in Wichita, Kansas.

The Circuit City jet was bound for Irvine, California, from Richmond, Virginia, where Circuit City was based, and was to refuel in Pueblo, about 100 miles south of Denver. The plane carried four company employees and two workers from Circuit City vendors, International Business Machines Corp. and Infinitive.

The Citation was one of two Circuit City-owned planes traveling together. The crew of the other jet, 10 to 15 minutes behind the first, properly activated de-icing equipment, increased airspeed and landed safely, the NTSB said.

Circuit City sought bankruptcy protection last year after suppliers concerned about declining sales of products such as televisions and computers cut off credit and demanded cash up- front for shipments.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=206...JlR6s&pos=9

Sierra FJ44 Super II and Super S-II gain Canadian STC approval. Sierra Re-engining Mods are now approved in more than 33 countries.

UVALDE, TX - November 18, 2009 - Canada's Department of Transport has amended STC (Supplemental Type Certificate) approval number SA06-54 for Sierra Industries, adding the Citation 550 and S550 models to their existing Williams FJ44 engine upgrades for Cessna Citation 500 and 501 aircraft. Since the initial 2002 certification, Sierra's FJ44 modifications have been applied to 54 aircraft. The high-performance fleet of Citation I, II and S-II aircraft have amassed a total of more than 50,000 hours of Williams engine operation to date.

Williams International's 3rd-generation engine technology increases efficiency, reducing fuel burn, operating cost and carbon emissions. Since the 2002 introduction of the FJ44 Eagle II, Sierra's FJ44 fleet has reduced worldwide carbon emissions by an estimated 10,000 tons. The aircraft also enjoy substantial performance improvements, ranging from 35 to 50 knot cruise speed increases and 300 to 400 NM greater range to dramatically improved climb performance. In fact, all 4 models can achieve FL430 at gross weight in under 25 minutes from any North American airport, making them ideal candidates for remote Canadian locations and high altitude airfields.

Building on Sierra's 25 years of Citation modification history and 15 years of experience in Citation re-engining, Sierra's current re-engining lineup includes the highly successful FAA and EASA-approved FJ44-2A Eagle II and Stallion and the FAA-approved FJ44-3A Super II and Super S-II modifications. Supporting these modifications with their extensive in-house manufacturing capabilities, Sierra is among the largest holders of FAA Parts Manufacturing Approvals (PMA) in the southwestern US.

Sierra recently announced new incentives for advance booking of 2010 modifications, reducing their already industry-leading 2009 pricing. FJ44-2A Stallion upgrades start at under $1.55 million and FJ44-3A Super II and Super S-II positions are available starting under $1.75 million. Generous trade-in allowances are also available on existing Pratt engines with time remaining.

Most owners also benefit from Williams' renowned Total Assurance Program (TAP), the industry's leading engine maintenance program. In the 2009 Aviation International News product support survey, Williams won top honors for both their engines and for their TAP maintenance program. The TAP program is estimated to save operators more than a quarter-million dollars in engine maintenance costs by the time TBO is reached, compared to the original Pratt JT15D engines.

About Sierra Industries

Sierra Industries has specialized in Citation aircraft for nearly 30 years and is the world leader in Citation Performance Enhancements and Modifications, holding more than 75 proprietary Citation modifications and products listed in our 132 page catalog - which covers only part of the company's 300 FAA supplemental type certificates (STC). Sierra is a wholly owned subsidiary of The SkyWay Group, Inc., which owns a business portfolio of several aviation related companies, including FlighTime Business Jets, the largest Citation aircraft management and Part 135 charter company in South Texas, and the Uvalde Flight Center, a full service fixed based operator.

Sierra holds FAA Repair Station certificate SI6R285J and employs an employee drug screening program, permitting the company to work on Part 135 on-demand air carrier aircraft. The company has all the necessary capabilities and personnel to deliver the highest quality work, including temperature controlled hangars, complete sheet metal capabilities, fully trained and qualified A&P mechanics, and on-field access to paint and interior facilities. Sierra has a long and distinguished history of developing reliable, well-engineered modifications to enhance the performance, utility and comfort of the Citation aircraft series.

To find out more about Sierra's FJ44 Stallion, Eagle II, Super II and Super S-II Citation re-engining programs, please contact Sierra Industries toll-free at 1-888-8FLYERS, or email them at sierra@sijet.com. Information on this program may also be obtained through their Internet web site at www.sijet.com.

This was sent to me and I thought everone would be interested in it.

http://www.pprune.org/biz-jets-ag-flying-g...-9-11-09-a.html

"Last time I flew a CJ2 (sunday the 8th) there was a light. Whenever you select gear down that little electrical pump will work the pressure in the system up and if it does so sucessfully, the light stays out. If there is a leak past the brake valves and you don´t press the brakes before touchdown for a while (not required by checklist) you won´t know of the failure. If the failure occurs just whilst applying brake pressure after touchdown there is naturally no warning. (And there is no connection between an engine driven hydraulic pump and the brake system, just that one electrical pump)
A common thing is that the CB for the pump is pulled during mx and overlooked when the airplane is picked up. I know of 2 cases of red faces by that, one was a very close shave with a fuel truck in a Excel.(Same system on C500-560, C525,C560XL/S)

Just as a sidenote: very few people brief for takeoff that this very light is one of those you should not abort a takeoff for. I try to bring this subject up on the checkrides I give and usually it takes a while to generate faith in what I say..."

An Army Citation-560 aircraft was forced to perform a gear-up landing Oct. 6, 2009, at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. Base emergency officials responsed to the accident. Three people were on board the plane, but no one was injured in the accident. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Matt Coleman-Foster)

An Army Citation-560 aircraft was forced to perform a gear-up landing Oct. 6, 2009, at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. Base emergency officials responsed to the accident. Three people were on board the plane, but no one was injured in the accident. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Matt Coleman-Foster)

Related Links
• Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska

Accident description
Status: Preliminary
Date: 06 OCT 2009
Time: 15:24
Type: Cessna UC-35A (Cessna 560 Citation V Ultra)
Operator: United States Army
Registration: 98-0008
C/n / msn: 560-0505
First flight: 1999
Crew: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants:
Passengers: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants:
Total: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3
Airplane damage: Substantial
Location: Anchorage-Elmendorf AFB, AK (EDF) (United States of America)
Phase: Landing (LDG)
Nature: Military
Departure airport: ?
Destination airport: Anchorage-Elmendorf AFB, AK (EDF/PAED), United States of America
Narrative:
An Army Cessna Citation aircraft was damaged when it was forced to perform a gear-up landing at the Elmendorf AFB (EDF).


Sources:
» US Air Force news release

AAIB Bulletin: 3/2009 G-OROO EW/C2008/06/01

INCIDENT

Aircraft Type and Registration: Cessna 560XL Citation XLS, G-OROO
No & Type of Engines: 2 Pratt & Whitney Canada PW545B turbofan engines
Year of Manufacture: 2007
Date & Time (UTC): 29 June 2008 at 1815 hrs
Location: En route from Bournemouth, Dorset, to Biggin Hill, Kent
Type of Flight: Unknown
Persons on Board: Crew - 2 Passengers - None
Injuries: Crew - None Passengers - N/A
Nature of Damage: Cowling and rudder
Commander’s Licence: Airline Transport Pilot’s Licence
Commander’s Age: Unknown
Commander’s Flying Experience: N/K hours
Last 90 days - N/K hours
Last 28 days - N/K hours
Information Source: AAIB Field Investigation

Synopsis
During a post-maintenance ferry flight from Bournemouth to Biggin Hill, approximately 75% of the left engine upper cowling detached, damaging the leading edge of the fin and left elevator. Inspection of the aircraft showed that a number of the leading edge cowling fasteners had not been secured.
History of the flight
The aircraft was being ferried to Biggin Hill after maintenance at Bournemouth. Whilst in the climb from FL070 to FL080 at 230 kt, the flight crew heard a rumble and felt a slight ‘thud’ in the rear of the aircraft. Due to a vibration in the control column, the autopilot was disconnected and a check of the flight controls was carried out; no abnormalities were noted. During the descent, passing through 3,000 ft and at 180 kt, another rumble was heard together with a thud at the rear of the aircraft. Another check of the flight controls was carried out and once again no abnormalities were noted. No further problems were encountered and the aircraft carried out a normal approach and landing. After shutdown, an inspection of the aircraft revealed that approximately 75% of the left engine upper cowling had separated from the aircraft damaging the leading edge of the fin and the left elevator.
Investigation
Examination of the aircraft revealed that a section of the upper cowling remained attached to the airframe by the latches securing it to the lower engine cowling, the
© Crown copyright 2009 8
AAIB Bulletin: 3/2009 G-OROO EW/C2008/06/01
leading and trailing edge fasteners having been pulled through the cowl structure. All of the trailing edge, and three of the outboard leading edge, cowl fasteners remained secured to the nacelle structure. There was no evidence of damage or deformation to the cowling securing points on the engine nacelle.
An investigation of the event carried out by the maintenance organisation revealed that the mechanic tasked with the reinstallation of the upper left engine cowling had been interrupted for several minutes whilst carrying out the task. This caused him to descend from the engine, but he had no recollection of climbing back up to the engine to secure the inboard fasteners. A further ‘panel re-fitment inspection’ and a ‘post maintenance safety check’ failed to identify that the inboard leading edge cowling fasteners had not been secured.
Safety Action
As a result of the investigation, the maintenance organisation has introduced several changes to minimise the possibility of this type of incident happening again. These include: relocation of the hangar management staff to provide more effective support of day-to-day operations, an increase in the number of administration staff, and a detailed briefing for inspectors, to identify those areas that require a more detailed inspection after maintenance tasks have been completed.
As a result of the actions taken by the maintenance organisation, it is thought that no further safety action should be recommended at this ti

 SI_Release_0709_Super_S_II.pdf ( 548.79k ) Number of downloads: 237


UVALDE, TX – July 27, 2009 – Validating the latest in a long series of Citation engine upgrades, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved Sierra Industries, Ltd. Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) ST09559AC Approved Model Listing (AML) for Part 23 and Part 25 operation. This STC amendment adds the Citation S550-based Sierra Super S-II modification to Sierra’s 10 existing re-engining certifications for Cessna 500, 501 and 550 models, marking the 6th Williams engine upgrade STC for the company. Prior to Sierra’s Williams FJ44 re-engining programs, the company developed 5 STC’s for a variety of Pratt & Whitney JT15D upgrades for the Citation.

To find out more about Sierra’s FJ44 Stallion, Eagle II, Super II and Super S-II Citation re-engining programs, please contact Sierra Industries toll-free at 1-888-8FLYERS, or email them at sierra@sijet.com. Information on this program may also be obtained through their Internet web site at www.sijet.com.

Sierra Super II modification planned for multi-role use by Latin American government

In cooperation with a south-of-the-border Citation service center, representatives of the sun-soaked land of margaritas have chosen a Sierra Super II upgrade to update and enhance their multi-mission Citation 550. The aircraft initially came to Sierra for a Universal 890R three-tube display upgrade, bringing the classic cockpit up to modern avionics standards. While here for the avionics upgrade the flight crew was exposed to Sierra's Williams engine upgrades. Excited, they returned home with the news and were soon scheduled for a Super II engine upgrade. With its new Universal avionics, FMS with Multi-Mission software for autopilot-coupled search patterns and increased engine efficiency and operating range, the aircraft gains dramatically extended capability for search and rescue missions. The aircraft will also utilize a new Flight Instrumentation System for testing and certification of ground-based radio navigation transmitters.

Sierra offers $125,000 rebate on new Williams FJ44-2A engines

Sierra Industries' Chief Marketing Officer Gary Buchanan has announced a $125,000 factory rebate for Summer 2009. This rebate is available for Citation 500/501 upgrades to Williams FJ44-2A engines installed at Sierra's production facilities in Uvalde, Texas.
"We have seen our customers impacted by the economic conditions that have an effect on their business." Gary went on to say, "Everyone is controlling expenses and Sierra is no different. Fortunately, we continue to improve our process and find ways to exceed our customer's expectiations. With our customers in mind, we are offering a one-time factory rebate on a set of brand new Williams FJ44-2A engines."
Gary continued, "This is our way of saying 'thank you' to the Citation owner. With 54 engine retrofits under our belts, we have developed an exclusive club of high-performance Citation aircraft. If you ask any or all of the owners, they will testify that these are spectacular animals."
The rebate program gives an aircraft owner the opportunity for either a Stallion or Eagle II modification to any 500/501 series Citation. The factory rebate is in addition to Sierra's normal trade-in allowance for the original JT15D-1A or -1B engines. For example, a typical Stallion upgrade would look like this:

With the exceptional performance and increased value of a modified Citation, this program makes sense even if you don't currently own a 500/501 aircraft. Today's pre-owned aircraft market makes it possible to acquire an airframe, install Sierra's upgrades and end up with a full-featured Stallion or Eagle II for far less than the cost of smaller and less capable VLJ's. For more details on operational savings, accelerated depreciation, and financing options, visit www.sijet.com. or call 1-888-835-9377.

The attached flyer is from Sierra Industries. For additional information click the link below.

IS YOUR CITATION MAINTENANCE TRACKING GOING OFF TRACK?

Nearly every Citation owner has heard that CESCOM maintenance tracking services has now been sold to a third-party company. Even if they continue to use the original name, your vital aircraft maintenance tracking will no longer be handled by an experienced Citation-specific organization. This can be a serious problem - or an opportunity.

While these third-party firms manage general maintenance tracking for hundreds of aircraft models, they just don't have the Citation-specific experience that Sierra Industries offers. Outside of Cessna itself, nobody has greater experience with the Citation than Sierra Industries. For more than 25 years, we've dedicated ourselves to making the Citation the best it can be. In that time, we've serviced more than half the worldwide Citation I and II fleet in our hangars at one time or another.

While servicing all those Citations, we became plenty frustrated with the slow service and high prices of the "default" maintenance tracking services. So more than a decade ago, we decided to build on our extensive Citation experience and create our own maintenance tracking program - and we've been refining it ever since. "SierraCOM" now handles tracking for hundreds of aircraft and boasts substantial improvements over the competition. Improvements that offer you speed, simplicity, and savings.

SierraCOM offers the Citation owner real-time online access, automatic email updates and more - all for about half the price of traditional tracking programs. With faster response, fleet discounts and available CD or paper reports, SierraCOM provides all the essentials without irrelevant and costly add-ons. When you include our standard features that others charge extra for, the difference is even clearer.

We're so sure that SierraCom is the Citation owner's best choice, that we'll make this special offer: Simply sign up for a three year SierraCom program and we'll convert your existing records and give you the first year of service absolutely FREE. That's 3 full years of focused Citation maintenance tracking for just $2,100 - compared to well over $5,000 with other services. You can find more details and try our free online demo at http://www.sijet.com/sierraCom.aspx.

Don't let your existing maintenance program simply roll-over to a new provider without exploring your options. Your aircraft, your safety and your time are far too important for that. Of course, saving yourself a few thousand dollars in the process is worth considering, too. Visit our website or call 1-888-835-9377 today to talk to an experienced Citation professional about SierraCom.

Sincerely,

Mark Huffstutler
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Sierra Industries Ltd.

Jet Makes Emergency Landing at Palm Springs Airport

A Cessna Citation business jet headed to Canada with six people aboard landed safely at Palm Springs International Airport after some smoke was detected in the cabin, a Federal Aviation Administration spokesman said Tuesday.

The plane, registered in Canada, departed from Palm Springs International Airport for Winnipeg, Manitoba, at 10:55 a.m., but the pilot radioed back to report smoke in the cockpit, FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said.

The plane circled around the Thermal area to burn off some fuel before the emergency landing.

"Generally when the plane is lighter it puts less strain on the landing gear," Gregor said.

He said it was later learned that the smoke was only in the cabin, but the cause of the smoke was under investigation.

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Je...gs-Airport.html