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NTSB Report

August 1, 2012 · Piper PA-44-180 · N740FT

Titusville, FL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 1, 2012
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (3 uninjured)
Location
Titusville, FL
Aircraft
Piper PA-44-180
Tail Number
N740FT
Operator
Space Coast Aviation
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ERA12LA494

The flight instructor was conducting practice instrument landing system approaches during an instructional flight when he observed that the nose landing gear indicator light did not indicate down and locked. He observed that the nose gear was extended and he cycled the landing gear without any changes to the nose gear indicator light. During a subsequent landing attempt, the airplane initially touched down on the main landing gear; however, as the nose landing gear touched down, it began to collapse. The airplane came to rest about 2,500 feet from the approach end of the runway, and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage around the nose gear. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the nose landing gear eccentric bushing, which engaged the downlock hook, was out of adjustment. In addition, a check of the hydraulic system fluid reservoir dipstick revealed that the fluid level was below the amount that could be observed on the dipstick. After the hydraulic system fluid reservoir was properly serviced and the eccentric bushing adjusted, the landing gear functioned normally. The airplane had been operated for about 10 hours since its most recent 100-hour inspection, which was performed about 12 days earlier. The accident flight was the airplane's first flight after it was released from maintenance, which included a landing gear inspection and operational check.

NTSB Probable Cause

Inadequate maintenance servicing and inspection of the nose landing gear, which resulted in the failure of the nose landing gear to lock and its subsequent collapse during landing.

Full Narrative

On August 1, 2012, about 1715 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-44-180, N740FT, operated by Space Coast Aviation, was substantially damaged when the nose landing gear collapsed during landing at the Space Coast Regional Airport (TIX), Titusville, Florida. The flight instructor, a private pilot, and a passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight that departed Merritt Island Airport (COI), Merritt Island, Florida. The instructional flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to the flight instructor, the airplane had various landing gear issues during the week prior to the accident, which included a faulty nose gear indicator light the day prior. While practicing instrument landing system approaches at TIX, the nose gear indicator light did not indicate down and locked; however, the flight instructor observed that the nose gear was extended. He cycled the landing gear without any changes to the nose gear indicator light and subsequently attempted to land on runway 36. The airplane initially touched down on the main landing gear; however, as the nose landing gear touched down, it began to collapse. The airplane came to rest about 2,500 feet from the approach end of the runway, and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage around the nose gear. Postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the nose landing gear eccentric bushing, which engaged the downlock hook was out-of-adjustment. In addition, a check of the hydraulic system fluid reservoir dipstick revealed that the fluid level was below an amount that could be observed on the dipstick. After the hydraulic system fluid reservoir was properly serviced and the eccentric bushing adjusted, the landing gear functioned normally. According to company maintenance records, the airplane had been operated for about 10 hours since its most recent 100 hour inspection, which was performed on July 20, 2012. In addition, the accident flight was the airplane's first flight after it was released from maintenance which included a landing gear inspection and operational check.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:15 EDT
Nearest AirportSpace Coast Regional (0nm)
Runway36
Runway Length7319 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-44-180
Tail NumberN740FT
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorSpace Coast Aviation
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360 SERIES · Reciprocating · 180 | Lycoming · O-360 SERIES · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (3 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured3
Total3
Crew 1Age 40 · First Class · None
Crew 2Age 19 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind270° @ 6 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 3000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point70 F
Altimeter29.97 inHg
Observation Time20:47
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data