Ian Sheppard has acted as Editor International Show Editions for AIN since June 2013. Based in the Redhill, England, Ian reports for the various AIN publications as well as providing support to International Editor Charles Alcock in covering international air shows (such as Farnborough, Paris, Singapore and Dubai), and the EBACE and MEBA business aviation events. His central role is to cover Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
Prior to becoming more involved with AIN in mid-2011 (initially as deputy international editor), Ian worked for various aviation publications through his company, First Aerospace Media. This included being part of the AIN team covering daily news at international air shows.
Ian has worked for publications such as Flight International (technical reporter, 1997-8) and Aerospace International (editor, 1999-2000). He was publications manager at Airclaims (Ascend) between 2000 and 2004 before forming First Aerospace Media. Since mid-2009 Ian has also been managing editor of Regional International, the journal of the European Regions Airline Association (ERA).
Ian hasis working towards a European commercial pilot licence, having held an FAA private pilot license in 1991, and instructor rating. He also has a degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Bath, England, and a graduate diploma in law from Kingston University, and is a graduate of the legal practice course (College of Law, Guildford).

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Ian Sheppard

Inadvertent crew braking during taxi pushback likely led to the nose landing gear (NLG) collapsing on a 2000 Bombardier Learjet 45 (registration C-GMCP) on May 4, 2019, at Scotland's Edinburgh Airport, according to a UK AAIB final report released today. There were no reported injuries to the two passengers or two crewmembers.

 


At the time of the mishap, the captain had 2,669 hours in type and 12,920 hours total time. The aircraft appears to have been operated by Skyservice Business Aviation.

 


The pilots started both engines at the gate before the aircraft was pushed back using a TLD 150 Max tug. As the aircraft was being turned to line up on the taxiway, the NLG suddenly collapsed aft and the aircraft came to rest.

 


During pushback, the copilot had been carrying out checks and had started adjusting the position of his rudder pedals. He was bringing the pedals aft and he said there was a possibility he might have tapped the brakes, but was not aware of having done so.

 


Examination of the aircraft showed that the nose leg bracket connected to the gear actuator had failed, allowing the NLG to collapse aft. (The Learjet 45's nose gear retracts in the forward direction.)

 


The bracket was examined at a metallurgical lab, revealing that it had failed due to overload. There was no evidence of material defects or fatigue, the AAIB said. It added that the aircraft manufacturer had examined photographs of the structural damage to the NLG bay and stated that this damage and the damage to the bracket was similar to the damage that occurred to a Learjet 45 at its production facility, which occurred during pushback with brake application. The company said it was also aware of two other in-service events in which brake application during pushback resulted in the same rearward NLG collapse.

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