Accident Summary
On 17 March 1996, a Piper PA-34-200T Seneca II, registration CS-AUE, operated by Air Brigantia, was completing a private flight from Bragança to Chaves, Portugal. During the landing phase on runway 16 at Chaves Aerodrome, the aircraft touched down approximately 30 meters before the runway threshold. The nose gear struck a depression in the uneven ground and was severed. After the impact, the aircraft became airborne briefly, then landed on its nose and slid approximately 300 meters to the left of the runway centerline before coming to a stop near the edge. The pilot and three passengers evacuated the aircraft without assistance and were uninjured.
Aircraft Information
The aircraft was a Piper PA-34-200T (Seneca II), serial number 34-7870101, manufactured in 1978. It was owned and operated by Air Brigantia. Total airframe time was 2791:55 hours with 22,983 landings. The most recent 100-hour/annual inspection was completed on 23 October 1995 by AEROTECNICA. Both engines (Teledyne Continental TSIO-360 EB2B and TSIO-360C) had 91:00 hours since installation. Propellers were Hartzell BHC-C2YF-2CKUF (left) and BHC-C2YF-2CKLUF (right), with 100:45 and 112:05 hours respectively. Weight and balance calculations before departure were within limits.
Pilot Information
The pilot, aged 46, held a valid Private Pilot License (number 4199/PPA/1) with multi-engine land class and restricted radiotelephony qualifications. He had 281:40 hours of single-engine experience and 59:40 hours of multi-engine experience. His Class 2 medical certificate was issued on 12 September 1995.
Accident Details
Witnesses reported that the pilot established a very long final approach to runway 16 at an excessively low altitude. During the flare, the aircraft touched down before the runway threshold at approximately three-point attitude. Due to irregularities in the ground—depressions and bumps—the nose gear impacted a depression, causing it to break. Following the initial contact, the aircraft lifted off again and then touched down nose-first, skidding about 300 meters. The nose gear leg was completely severed and left a deep groove on the runway. Both propeller blades were bent inward at angles greater than 90 degrees, indicating the engines were operating at high power during the impact. No fire occurred.
Damage Assessment
Visual inspection after the aircraft was towed to the apron revealed: fuselage severely damaged near the nose gear well, with nose gear doors destroyed and torn; right wing wrinkled and damaged near the front spar, at one-third of the wing and nacelle above the main gear; main landing gear right side seriously damaged from compression forces; both propellers with tips bent inward; and a pronounced groove on the runway from the severed nose gear. No other parts separated during the deceleration roll.
Investigation Findings
The accident investigation determined that the cause of the accident was the execution of a landing before the runway threshold. Contributing factors were the pilot's limited experience in multi-engine aircraft and the presence of ground irregularities before the runway threshold.