Bombardier INC CL-600-2B19 incident near Detroit, Michigan, March 30, 2011
On March 30, 2011 at about 11:46 pm local time, a Bombardier INC CL-600-2B19, registered N8505Q, was involved in an incident during prior to flight near Detroit, Michigan (Detroit Metro - Wayne County airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). No one was hurt; 27 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The mechanic's incomplete securing of all the wheel well bin's fasteners, which resulted in separation of the bin from the airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 30, 2011 · about 11:46 pm local time
- Place
- Detroit, Michigan · Detroit Metro - Wayne County · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 27 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bombardier INC CL-600-2B19
- Registration
- N8505Q · registry record · serial 7505
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The operator reported that the flight crew received a main landing gear overheat fail message on the engine indication and crew alerting system as the landing gear was being retracted after takeoff. During the remainder of the flight, the message came on every 15 to 20 seconds, remained on for about 5 seconds, and then extinguished. The flight crew contacted maintenance control and were advised that the flight could continue to the destination since the message was intermittent. The airplane landed at its intended destination without incident. During postincident troubleshooting to determine the reason for the message, maintenance personnel discovered that the right wheel well bin, which incorporated the landing gear overheat temperature sensor, had departed the aircraft. Examination revealed that only 3 of the 11 fasteners that attached the bin to the fuselage remained in place, and those 3 fasteners retained torn sections of bin under their heads. According to the operator, the last maintenance that involved removal and reinstallation of the wheel well bin was the repair of a flap discrepancy six days prior to the incident. Subsequent to the repair, the airplane completed 29 flights before the incident flight. After the incident, the operator published a warning in its airplane maintenance manual cautioning mechanics not to use electric, battery, or pneumatic powered screw guns to secure wheel well bins.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Aircraft servicing event during prior to flight
- Part(s) separation from AC during unknown defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › (general) › Incorrect service/maintenance
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incomplete action › Maintenance personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,950 hours in all; 3,725 in this make and model; 142 in the last 90 days; 81 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: February 9, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,600 hours in all; 1,737 in this make and model
- Last flight review: January 26, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 22,800.2 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, March 24, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 53,000 lb
- Seats: 55
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Ge CF34-3B1 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Ge CF34-3B1 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Pinnacle Airlines INC
The flight
- Departed from: PVD Providence RI at 10:23 pm
- Destination: DTW Detroit MI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 23, 7,166 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 060° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 11,000 ft; scat at 8,500 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from DTW
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | |||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 24 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.