Event CHI05LA047

Factual narrative

On December 20, 2004, at 1330 central standard time, a Learjet 25B, N252BK, operated by Barkin International Aviation, collided with a berm following a loss of directional control while landing on runway 13 (6,200 feet by 150 feet, dry asphalt) at the Eastern Iowa Airport (CID), Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The airline transport rated captain, commercial rated co-pilot, and two medical crew members were not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 positioning flight was being conducted in visual meteorological conditions with an instrument flight rules flight plan on file. The flight originated from CID with an intended destination of McAllen, Texas. Both pilots reported that they encountered what they thought were rough spots on the runway during the takeoff roll. The captain reported that after takeoff, he called for the co-pilot to raise the gear and engage the yaw damper. He stated he then called for the flaps to be retracted and for the climb checklist. He stated that both he and the co-pilot then noticed an unsafe gear indication for the nose gear. The captain stated they leveled off at 5,000 feet and he decreased the airspeed so that the co-pilot could recycled the landing gear. They informed the tower that they had a problem with the gear and that they wanted to stay in the area. The co-pilot cycled the landing gear four more times to no avail. The captain stated they then requested a landing back at CID. He stated they had a gear down and locked indication for all three landing gear during the visual approach to runway 13. The captain stated that on touchdown, the co-pilot extended the spoilers and armed the thrust reversers. He stated that after the nose wheel touched down the airplane made a sharp left turn and traveled off the side of the runway through the grass. The airplane contacted a four-foot high berm prior to coming to a stop on runway 09. The captain stated he attempted to taxi the airplane only to discover that they did not have any nose wheel steering. Post accident inspection revealed the seal on the nose gear strut had failed which prevented the nose gear from centering. The airplane collided with a berm following a loss of directional control while landing. The airplane was on a 14 CFR Part 91 positioning flight at the time of the accident. The pilots reported that they encountered what they thought were rough spots on the runway during the takeoff roll. The captain reported that after takeoff, he called for the co-pilot to raise the gear and engage the yaw damper. The crew then noticed an unsafe gear indication for the nose gear. The captain stated they leveled off at 5,000 feet and decreased the airspeed so they could recycled the landing gear. Cycling the landing gear did not resolve the problem. The crew then requested to return to the departure airport for landing. The landing gear was extended and a gear down and locked indication for all three landing gear was observed. The captain stated that on touchdown, the co-pilot extended the spoilers and armed the thrust reversers. He stated that after the nose wheel touched down the airplane made a sharp left turn and traveled off the side of the runway through the grass. The airplane contacted a four-foot high berm prior to coming to a stop on another runway. The captain stated he attempted to taxi the airplane only to discover that they did not have any nose wheel steering. Post accident inspection revealed the seal on the nose gear strut had failed which prevented the nose gear from centering. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12