N60WC
Operators of this aircraft
Who operated this tail, and how firmly we know it.
| Operator | Role | Period | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| WEST COAST CHARTERS, INC. (GSPA) | Certificate holder | — | Matched by certificate designator |
Accident & incident history
No NTSB accidents or incidents on file for this aircraft.
Maintenance disclosures
ON SATURDAY 11/7/2020, DURING A SCHEDULED CHARTER FLIGHT FROM KSNA-KLAS, SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTURE N60WC DIVERTED/RETURNED TO KSNA DUE TO A CRACKED PILOT SIDE WINDSHIELD. NO EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED, AND THE AIRCRAFT SAFELY LANDED. ROOT CAUSE OF WINDSHIELD DAMAGE HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO BE FAILED HEATING ELEMENTS WITHIN THE WINDSHIELD. WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE DAMAGED WINDSHIELD. SEE BELOW CREW REPORT. CLIFF AND I WERE FLYING 60WC FROM SNA-LAS TODAY NOV 7 AND WE EXPERIENCED A CRACKED PILOT SIDE WINDSHIELD INFLIGHT. CLIMBING THROUGH ROUGHLY 6,000FT THE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 5 CELSIUS SO WE TURNED WINDSHIELD HEAT ON LOW. WE LEVELED AT 12,000FT WHERE THE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT -5 CELSIUS AND WE ACCELERATED TO ABOUT 220 KNOTS WHEN THE LEFT FORWARD WINDSHIELD CRACKED. NO ABNORMAL INDICATIONS WERE PRESENT WITH REGARDS TO PRESSURIZATION AND WE IMMEDIATELY INITIATED A DESCENT, SLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO 150 KNOTS AND RETURNED TO SNA WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.
SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTING, DIVERTED BACK TO DEPARTURE DUE TO A RIGHT BLEED AIR FAIL WARNING. THIS WAS A LIVE PART 135 FLIGHT, NO EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED, WHILE THE CREW LANDED SAFELY BACK AT AIRPORT. IN TROUBLESHOOTING THE DISCREPANCY TECHNICIANS FOUND A PIN HOLE THE PLASTIC/EVA TUBING RUN ALONG THE RIGHT ENGINE NACELLE. THIS SMALL PIN HOLE ALLOWED FOR ENOUGH AIR PRESSURE TO ESCAPE, CAUSING THE BLEED AIR WARNING SWITCH TO LOSE THE 2 PSI REQUIRED TO EXTINGUISH THE WARNING ANNUNCIATOR. THE TUBING WAS REPLACED AND A SATISFACTORY OPERATIONAL CHECK OF THE BLEED AIR WARNING SYSTEM HAS BEEN COMPLETED.
SECONDS AFTER ROTATION, STARTED FEELING UNUSUAL VIBRATIONS, AND HEARING A LOUD RUMBLE. ALL ENGINE GAUGES INDICATED NORMAL AND EXPECTED VALUES, AND NO ANNUNCIATOR LIGHT CAME ON. SINCE THE PLANE WAS FLYING FINE, HOWEVER WITH A VERY SLIGHT PULL TO THE RIGHT, DECIDED TO CLIMB TO A FEW THOUSANDS FEET BEFORE PAYING MORE ATTENTION TO IT. AFTER COMPLETING THE AFTER TAKEOFF CHECKLIST, ASKED THE COPILOT IF HE SAW ANYTHING ON THE RIGHT SIDE. REPORTED THAT AN UPPER WING PANEL HAD PARTIALLY COME OFF AND WAS FLAPPING AROUND. CONSIDERING THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE PANEL COULD COME OFF AND CAUSE ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO THE FRAME, I TOLD MY COPILOT TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY, AND WE STARTED HEADING BACK FOR A LANDING AT KSNA. WE DID NOT START FEELING OR HEARING THE EFFECTS OF THE DAMAGED PANEL UNTIL AFTER ROTATION, BUT I HAD NO WAY TO TELL WHETHER THE PANEL MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED BEFORE THE ACTUAL ROTATION, DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. NOTHING WAS NOTICED DURING THE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION.
ON APPROACH TO AIRPORT, WE WENT TO PUT THE LANDING GEAR DOWN. MOVED THE LANDING GEAR LEVER TO THE DOWN POSITION BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. THERE WAS NO SOUND OF THE GEAR MOTOR RUNNING. WE CYCLED THE GEAR HANDLE SEVERAL TIMES BUT SAME RESPONSE. WE INFORMED TOWER. WE RAN THROUGH THE EMERGENCY CHECKLIST, AND WAS ABLE TO PUMP THE GEAR DOWN AND RECEIVED A DOWN AND LOCKED INDICATION. WE THEN PERFORMED A LOW APPROACH AND THE TOWER INFORMED US THE GEAR LOCKED DOWN AND LOCKED. WE MADE A NORMAL LANDING.