On January 1, 1988, a Cessna 414 (registration N30ML) operated by Robert H. Lewis was involved in an aviation accident near Fayetteville, AR. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During an instructional flight, a loud pop was heard when lowering the landing gear. Flybys confirmed unsafe nose gear configuration. After burning fuel and attempting emergency procedures, the nose gear collapsed on landing, causing substantial damage. Post-flight inspection found a flat strut and mechanical issues.
Incident Details
During an instructional flight, the certified flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot heard a loud popping sound while attempting to extend the landing gear in preparation for landing. The aircraft performed several passes near the control tower to visually confirm that the nose gear was not properly deployed.
Emergency Actions
The crew flew the aircraft for an additional hour and a half to reduce the fuel load. They then attempted to lower the landing gear using emergency extension procedures. Following these attempts, they proceeded to execute an emergency landing.
Landing and Damage
During the emergency landing, the nose gear collapsed, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft.
Post-Flight Inspection
A post-flight inspection revealed that the nose gear strut was flat and that there were mechanical problems within the nose gear strut assembly.