Cessna 208B Caravan Nose Gear Incident at Los Cuatro Diablos Aerodrome

Incident Overview and Location On May 13, 2021, an aviation incident occurred involving a Cessna 208B Caravan at the Los Cuatro Diablos Aerodrome (SCME), located in the Comuna de Melipilla, Región Metropolitana, Chile. The aircraft was operated by a pilot holding an Airline Transport Pilot License for airplanes, accompanied by one passenger. The flight was intended for a parachute drop operation over a local field. ## Sequence of Events During the initial takeoff, the pilot reported feeling a jolt in the landing gear, which was attributed to the unpaved condition of the runway. The pilot also noted that the right rudder pedal felt heavy. Despite these observations, the pilot completed the parachute drop and returned to the aerodrome to land on runway 26 with increased caution. The landing itself was uneventful, with the pilot keeping the nose wheel in the air as long as possible and using engine reverse thrust to slow the aircraft. The incident occurred during a 180-degree left turn on the runway as the aircraft was taxiing toward the platform. The pilot reported a sudden impact in the nose gear, prompting an immediate shutdown of the engine and a halt to taxiing as a precaution. ## Damage and Injuries The investigation found that a bolt in the nose gear fork had fractured, resulting in a deformed fork and severed support bolts. No other damage was reported to the aircraft. Both the pilot and the passenger were unharmed. ## Aircraft and Maintenance Details The aircraft, a 1995 Cessna 208B Caravan (serial number 208B0485), was powered by a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-140 engine and equipped with a Hartzell HC-B3TN-3AF propeller. At the time of the incident, the aircraft had 15,949.3 flight hours. The last special inspection was completed on March 22, 2021, at 15,913.3 hours, 36.0 hours before the incident. The operator was in compliance with the DGAC-approved maintenance program, and no discrepancies were recorded between the last inspection and the incident date. The maintenance program did not include a specific inspection for the nose gear fork bolts, which were maintained on an 'on-condition' basis. The pilot's pre-flight inspection and functional tests did not identify any issues.