NTSB investigators appear to be focusing their efforts on the landing gear in the aftermath of a Learjet 35A accident on February 10 at Arizona's Scottsdale Airport (KSDL), according to the preliminary report. Registered as N81VN, the twinjet crashed into a parked Gulfstream G200 after experiencing a runway excursion on landing, resulting in one fatality and four injuries. A witness photo in the NTSB report shows the left landing gear to be "askew" while the aircraft was on short approach. 

The Learjet captain was killed in the crash, while the first officer and a passenger sustained serious injuries, one passenger sustained minor injuries, and an occupant of the G200 suffered serious injuries. Operated under Part 91 by Chromed in Hollywood, the Learjet was substantially damaged.

N81VN was en route to Scottsdale from Florida, with a refueling stop in Austin, Texas. ​At 2,800 feet agl, the jet turned onto the final approach path to Runway 21. ​Security footage and witness videos showed the left landing gear trailing aft from its normal position. ​Upon touchdown, the aircraft veered left, exited the runway, and struck the G200. ​The Learjet engines continued to run until emergency responders arrived and shut them down. ​

Investigators found the left main landing gear on Taxiway Bravo, with the aft trunnion pin missing from its casting. Investigators noted excessive grease in the wheel well. ​In June 2024, the report indicated that the same flight crew had a previous hard landing incident, requiring a hard landing inspection. ​Another mechanic who serviced the landing gear in December noted excessive grease usage.

In an interview with the NTSB, the technician who performed the hard landing inspection said he removed both main landing gear to facilitate the pertinent eddy-current inspections that were required. He told the NTSB that he followed the maintenance manual for all of the work he performed.

According to the NTSB report, the procedure to reinstall the gear must be followed explicitly. “If the [retaining] bolt is secured before engaging the pin in the trunnion casing then the grease hole could be aft of the bushing, allowing grease to escape outside the pin, into the wing bay behind spar #7,” the NTSB said. “With the adjacent access panel removed, using a mirror, the pin can visibly be seen not making contact with the aft trunnion fitting when it is not fully pushed into the trunnion casing.”

Notably, the NTSB is aware of at least three other previous events where a Learjet landing gear had disconnected from the airframe because the retaining bolt was not engaged through the aft trunnion pin.

The accident occurred under clear weather conditions, with visibility of 10 miles reported. ​Within minutes, the Scottsdale Fire Department arrived on the scene, and the first officer was extracted from the cockpit and transported to the hospital. ​The ongoing investigation includes participation from the FAA, Bombardier, and Honeywell.