Gulfstream IV crash at KBED, 5/31

[Captain_Barfbag 31]

The report indicates that the crew did not perform control surface checks pre-flight.

 

My speculation remains that the elevators failed to respond when they tried to rotate.  It was at that point that they intentionally engaged gust lock to force the elevators down and abort the takeoff.  The lever was found in the forward (off) position because it was pushed forward by the impact.

[Bob Scott 7,721]

The report indicates that the crew did not perform control surface checks pre-flight.

 

My speculation remains that the elevators failed to respond when they tried to rotate.  It was at that point that they intentionally engaged gust lock to force the elevators down and abort the takeoff.  The lever was found in the forward (off) position because it was pushed forward by the impact.

 It appears that the crew's failure to do the flight control check as required in the checklist may have been a fatal mistake.

 

I'm wondering myself if the elevator gust lock latch didn't release when the gust lock lever was released.  But, as Bill pointed out, the gust-lock throttle interlock would have prevented moving the throttles to takeoff power had the GL been engaged when taking the runway.  The left-seater would also have had no rudder-pedal steering had the GL been engaged...can't imagine taxiing out for takeoff and not noticing that.  Honestly, the idea that a crew would intentionally engage the GL during a takeoff is pretty bizarre--it does not move the control surfaces anyway, it only locks them in a preset position.  Normal operation entails pulling up the GL lever, which locks into place with a mechanical latch, and the moving the control yoke forward until the gust lock engages.

 

Regards

[Richard Sennett 2,499]

I reported from the original posting about this that it was a control surface problem - guess I wasn't that far off

[n4gix 4,947]

Bob, I do believe that they probably did in fact release the gust lock, but failed to verify control surface movements, just assuming that if the mechanical lock was disengaged, everything was actually released...

 

I mean, it's not as though you could accidentally bump it on or off!

 

As you said, it was a fatal mistake; it is simply not enough to "trust," one should always verify...