37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
|
Attributes | |
ACN | 1070939 |
Time | |
Date | 201303 |
Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
Place | |
Locale Reference | ZZZ.ARTCC |
State Reference | US |
Environment | |
Flight Conditions | VMC |
Light | Daylight |
Aircraft 1 | |
Make Model Name | Learjet 31 |
Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
Flight Phase | Cruise |
Route In Use | Direct |
Flight Plan | IFR |
Component | |
Aircraft Component | Inverter |
Person 1 | |
Function | Pilot Not Flying First Officer |
Qualification | Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine |
Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 40 Flight Crew Total 1315 Flight Crew Type 20 |
Person 2 | |
Function | Pilot Flying Captain |
Qualification | Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) |
Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100 Flight Crew Total 6900 Flight Crew Type 250 |
Events | |
Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical |
Narrative:
We had just leveled off at our cruising altitude of 33;000 ft. Our filed altitude was 41;000 but because the winds were better at 33;000 for improved fuel burn and shorter flight time we elected to make 33;000 our final cruising altitude. We requested the change of cruising altitude to ATC and it was approved. After leveling at cruise (33;000) and completing the cruise checklist both inverters failed and we lost all primary flight instruments. We notified ATC immediately we had a problem. They gave us a descent to 27;000. I was instructed to begin the abnormal checklist for an inverter failure while the captain flew the aircraft and began communicating with ATC. After completing the abnormal procedure for inverter failure it was clear that we could not get either inverter back online. We notified ATC that we had a problem with our inverters and were unable to navigate accurately. After deliberating with the captain and checking the weather we determined that ZZZ was the best suitable airport to divert to; as it had maintenance facilities. We were in complete VMC conditions and in positive control of the aircraft and the safety of flight were never in question. Due to both inverters failing and losing primary flight instruments and navigation capability we requested ATC for vectors direct to our diversion airport which was granted. We remained VMC for the duration of the diversion and landed without incident. ATC performed admirably and professionally during the entire procedure.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: LJ31 flight crew experiences a dual inverter failure at FL330 rendering all primary flight instruments inoperative. With ATC assistance; the crew elects to divert to a suitable airport for maintenance.
Narrative: We had just leveled off at our cruising altitude of 33;000 FT. Our filed altitude was 41;000 but because the winds were better at 33;000 for improved fuel burn and shorter flight time we elected to make 33;000 our final cruising altitude. We requested the change of cruising altitude to ATC and it was approved. After leveling at cruise (33;000) and completing the cruise checklist both inverters failed and we lost all primary flight instruments. We notified ATC immediately we had a problem. They gave us a descent to 27;000. I was instructed to begin the abnormal checklist for an inverter failure while the Captain flew the aircraft and began communicating with ATC. After completing the abnormal procedure for inverter failure it was clear that we could not get either inverter back online. We notified ATC that we had a problem with our inverters and were unable to navigate accurately. After deliberating with the Captain and checking the weather we determined that ZZZ was the best suitable airport to divert to; as it had maintenance facilities. We were in complete VMC conditions and in positive control of the aircraft and the safety of flight were never in question. Due to both inverters failing and losing primary flight instruments and navigation capability we requested ATC for vectors direct to our diversion airport which was granted. We remained VMC for the duration of the diversion and landed without incident. ATC performed admirably and professionally during the entire procedure.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.