Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-44-180 near Jacksonville, FL — 2014-07-31

Final reportERA14IA370
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Date
2014-07-31
Location
Jacksonville, FL, USA
Airport
VQQ
Aircraft
PIPER PA-44-180
Registration
N216FW
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The nose landing gear collapse for reasons that could not be determined because examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies.

NTSB narrative

The two pilots, both of whom were flight instructors, were practicing a single-engine approach and landing when the incident occurred. Both pilots reported that all three landing gear position lights indicated that the landing gear were down and locked before landing, and the pilot flying described the landing as "normal." During the landing roll, the pilot not flying observed the landing gear position lights flicker, and the nose landing gear subsequently collapsed. The airplane was subsequently placed on jacks, and the landing gear were cycled. The landing gear extended, locked, and retracted normally, and the flickering of the gear position lights could not be replicated.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Check landing gear functionality before landing to prevent collapse.

NTSB coding

  • Landing gear collapse · Landing-landing roll

Evidence available

  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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