ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 385519
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| Date: | Sunday 29 July 2001 |
| Time: | 09:15 LT |
| Type: |  Piper PA-31-350 |
| Owner/operator: | American Aviation, Inc. |
| Registration: | N114SA |
| MSN: | 31-8052053 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1980 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 13729 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming TIO-540-J2BD |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Grand Junction, CO -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Landing |
| Nature: | Unknown |
| Departure airport: | Salt Lake City International Airport, UT (SLC/KSLC) |
| Grand Junction, CO | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
While on final approach the pilot moved the landing gear lever to the extended position, heard the normal sounds of the gear extending and noted that the three green landing gear position lights were illuminated. However, when he looked at the nose landing gear through the mirror on the left engine cowling, he noted that the nose gear was hanging at a 45-degree angle. The pilot attempted to cycle the gear, and the nose landing gear did not move. The pilot executed a go-around. The pilot attempted to use the emergency gear extension procedure, contacted various maintenance facilities via aircraft radio, and then performed a low fly-by of the air traffic control tower (ATCT). The ATCT controllers were able to see that the main landing gear appeared to be down and locked; however, the nose landing gear was hanging at a 45-degree angle. During the ensuing landing, the nose gear collapsed, and the pilot brought the airplane to a stop on the runway. Examination revealed that the airplane's nose landing gear right drag brace (link assembly) was separated. The NTSB examined the fracture surfaces and observed a banding pattern on both fracture surfaces, consistent with fatigue. Ratchet marks indicated that the fatigue initiated from machining marks located in the blend radius between the narrow edge of one of the idler link lugs and the adjacent surface of the link.
Probable Cause: the failure of the nose landing gear right drag brace (link assembly) due to fatigue.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB DEN01LA132
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 27 September 2000 | N114SA | Frog Air | 0 | Cal Black Memorial Airport, Blanding, near Halls Crossing, Utah. | |
sub |
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 04-Apr-2024 19:33 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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