NTSB Urges Urgent Inspections of 1,883 Learjets After Fatal Scottsdale Crash

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has urged the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to mandate urgent inspections of the landing gear on nearly 2,000 Bombardier Learjets following a fatal crash in Scottsdale, Arizona, involving a jet owned by Mötley Crüe singer Vince Neil. Investigators found that the left main landing gear separated upon landing due to a critical assembly failure involving a retaining bolt not properly secured by a pin, a problem linked to multiple previous incidents. Despite Bombardier's recommendation for inspections shortly after the crash, only about 12% of the potentially affected jets have been inspected, prompting the NTSB to criticize the FAA's earlier decision not to require such inspections. The NTSB emphasized the minimal time required for compliance, around two hours per plane, and the significant risk of loss of life if similar accidents occur. Additionally, the NTSB called for updated maintenance procedures to include mandatory post-maintenance visual inspections to prevent installation errors that can go undetected during standard checks. As of now, the FAA has not responded to the NTSB's recommendations.