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June 5, 1982 · Piper PA-23-250 · N1AU

Auburn, AL

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 5, 1982
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Auburn, AL
Aircraft
Piper PA-23-250
Tail Number
N1AU
Operator
Auburn University Aviation
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL82DA156

While on a downwind for a landing in multi-engine training, the nose gear would not extend. All efforts to extend the nose gear, including a bounced landing, were unsuccessful. The aircrew intended to land on the main gear and then hold the nose off until the aircraft slowed. The multi-engine instructor (IP), who occupied the right seat, established the aircraft on a straight-in final approach with 1/2 flaps and zero thrust (10 in Hg) on both engines. While still airborne, the IP commanded the student (a single-engine IP) to feather both propellers and shut down both engines. Immediately the rate of descent increased and the plane touched down on an embankment about 45 ft short of the runway. The plane bounced, and after a second touchdown, the nose contacted the runway about 55 ft beyond the touchdown point and was damaged. An investigation revealed that a rocking nut which retained the nosewheel was missing. The aircraft had undergone a 100 hr inspection about 8 hours previous to the accident.

Full Narrative

WHILE ON A DOWNWIND FOR A LANDING IN MULTI-ENGINE TRAINING, THE NOSE GEAR WOULD NOT EXTEND. ALL EFFORTS TO EXTEND THE NOSE GEAR, INCLUDING A BOUNCED LANDING, WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE AIRCREW INTENDED TO LAND ON THE MAIN GEAR AND THEN HOLD THE NOSE OFF UNTIL THE AIRCRAFT SLOWED. THE MULTI-ENGINE INSTRUCTOR (IP), WHO OCCUPIED THE RIGHT SEAT, ESTABLISHED THE AIRCRAFT ON A STRAIGHT-IN FINAL APPROACH WITH 1/2 FLAPS AND ZERO THRUST (10 IN HG) ON BOTH ENGINES. WHILE STILL AIRBORNE, THE IP COMMANDED THE STUDENT (A SINGLE-ENGINE IP) TO FEATHER BOTH PROPELLERS AND SHUT DOWN BOTH ENGINES. IMMEDIATELY THE RATE OF DESCENT INCREASED AND THE PLANE TOUCHED DOWN ON AN EMBANKMENT ABOUT 45 FT SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. THE PLANE BOUNCED, AND AFTER A SECOND TOUCHDOWN, THE NOSE CONTACTED THE RUNWAY ABOUT 55 FT BEYOND THE TOUCHDOWN POINT AND WAS DAMAGED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT A ROCKING NUT WHICH RETAINED THE NOSEWHEEL, WAS MISSING. THE AIRCRAFT HAD UNDERGONE A 100 HR INSPECTION ABOUT 8 HOURS PREVIOUS TO THE ACCIDENT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:00 CDT
Nearest AirportRobert G. Pitts (0nm N)
Runway36
Runway Length3945 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-23-250
Tail NumberN1AU
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorAuburn University Aviation
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540C4B5 · Reciprocating · 250
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 46 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind60° @ 7 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point18 C / 0 C
Altimeter0

Appendix: Source Data