On April 22, 1986, a Piper PA-44-180 (registration N39693) operated by Indianapolis Aviation was involved in an aviation accident near Noblesville, IN. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The collapse of the nose gear upon touchdown, which resulted from a missing nose gear assembly bolt. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
During a training flight, the aircraft's nose gear collapsed upon touchdown despite a green indication, revealing a missing assembly bolt.
What happened
The incident occurred during a training flight that had already included two successful takeoffs and landings. On the approach for the third landing, the crew received a three-green indication, signaling that the landing gear was down and locked. However, after touchdown, the nose gear folded, causing the aircraft to settle on its nose.
The investigation
An examination of the aircraft revealed that a nose gear assembly bolt was missing. This mechanical failure prevented the nose gear from supporting the aircraft's weight during the landing roll.
Probable cause
The collapse of the nose gear upon touchdown, which resulted from a missing nose gear assembly bolt.
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