Investigation number
199403989
Occurrence date
State
New South Wales
Report release date
Report status
Final
Investigation type
Occurrence Investigation
Investigation status
Completed
Aviation occurrence type
Wheels up landing
Occurrence category
Incident
The pilot reported that he obtained the normal safe landing gear indication after the gear was extended prior to landing. The touchdown was normal but the nose gear collapsed as it contacted the runway. It was later determined that the nose gear drag brace fitting which attaches to the fuselage was loose. Some of the attaching rivets had been replaced with bolts at some time prior to the accident. The bolts and remaining rivets had worked loose. This allowed a change in geometry of the downlock mechanism which unlocked under the landing load and allowed the nose leg to collapse.
Aircraft Details
Manufacturer
Piper Aircraft Corp
Model
PA-34-200T
Registration
VH-WJI
Sector
Piston
Departure point
Trangie NSW
Destination
Dubbo NSW
Damage
Nil