NTSB Issues Urgent Safety Guidance for Hawker Jet Stall Tests

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued urgent safety recommendations covering several Hawker jet variants following two fatal accidents that occurred during manufacturer-required stall test flights after maintenance in 2024 and 2025.

In addition to the two fatal crashes, investigators reviewed another incident and two related events that highlighted significant gaps in documentation, procedures, and pilot qualification criteria for conducting stall tests. The NTSB found that ice contamination and other wing irregularities—including bent vortex generators—led to stalls occurring before stick pusher activation and, in some cases, simultaneously with stick shaker activation. In one fatal accident, inadequate pilot training and experience were identified as causal factors, while another investigation remains ongoing.

The NTSB advised Textron Aviation, the current holder of the Hawker type certificate, to review pilot documentation across all aircraft covered by the A3EU type certificate. The agency recommended that updated materials clearly explain how wing deformities or contamination can significantly alter stall behavior, including the risk of abrupt, uncommanded rolls and stalls occurring with little or no warning. The guidance also stresses that pilots conducting stall tests must receive specific training on proper recovery techniques and ensure adequate altitude margins before initiating such maneuvers.

Further recommendations call on Textron Aviation to develop a clear and comprehensive stall test plan for the Hawker 700, 800, 800XP, 850XP, and 900XP models. The NTSB also urged the manufacturer to define explicit training and experience requirements for pilots authorized to conduct stall tests and to review other aircraft on the type certificate for similar vulnerabilities.

One of the fatal accidents involved a Hawker 900XP (registration N900VA) near Westwater, Utah, in February 2024. According to the NTSB, the aircraft stalled as the stick shaker activated and before the stick pusher engaged. Investigators believe the delayed stall protection response was likely caused by wing performance degradation due to structural ice accumulation as the aircraft climbed through cloud layers. After entering the stall, the aircraft abruptly rolled right. The flight crew’s corrective inputs—full opposite aileron, full power, and aft elevator—further aggravated the aerodynamic stall and led to a spin, killing both crewmembers on board.

The NTSB noted that while the aircraft manual references “unacceptable stall characteristics,” including stalls occurring before stick shaker or pusher activation or uncommanded rolls exceeding 20 degrees, current pilot documentation does not provide clear recovery guidance beyond advising forward elevator movement.

The Hawker 800/900 is a midsize twin-engine corporate jet developed from the British Aerospace 125 family. Designed for efficient short- and medium-range business travel, the aircraft was assembled by Hawker Beechcraft and became one of the most widely operated business jets in its class, valued for its cabin comfort, performance, and reliability.

A more recent accident in October 2025 involved a Hawker 800XP that crashed during a stall test flight near Bath Township, Michigan, killing the pilot, co-pilot, and a maintenance representative. Although the investigation is ongoing, the NTSB stated that the descent profile and other aspects of the flight closely resemble those observed in the Utah accident.

The guidance also references a 2006 investigation involving a BAE 125-800A, where ice contamination led to an unexpected stall without stick shaker or pusher activation and an uncommanded 360-degree roll, injuring six crewmembers. Two additional stall test events cited by the NTSB involved deformed vortex generators causing similar behavior, though without injuries or damage.

The NTSB said the recommendations are intended to address systemic risks in stall test operations and prevent further loss of life during these high-risk post-maintenance flights.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, aopa.org