Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-34-200T near Inverness, FL — 2010-09-15

Final reportERA10TA481
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Date
2010-09-15
Location
Inverness, FL, USA
Airport
X40
Aircraft
PIPER PA-34-200T
Registration
N2872S
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The pilot's improper flare which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent collapse of the nose landing gear.

NTSB narrative

The purpose of the flight was to conduct practice takeoffs and landings in the local airport traffic pattern utilizing a short field landing technique. During the landing roll, the pilot applied the brakes and retracted the flaps, then heard a "bang" as the nose landing gear collapsed and folded back into the wheel well. The nose of the airplane subsequently settled onto the runway and both propellers struck the runway surface. Postaccident examination of the nose landing gear revealed that the rivets attaching the nose landing gear actuator bracket to its mounting bulkhead had sheared vertically due to the landing. Additionally, the upper nose landing gear drag link attachment bolt was bent, consistent with a hard landing.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Failure to inspect per service bulletin before the accident flight.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 8 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents8

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