On August 16, 1996, a Cessna 150H (registration N6935S) operated by The Pilot Center was involved in an aviation accident near Fort Collins, CO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: improper flare by the pilot, which resulted in a hard landing, and subsequent overload failure of the nosewheel axle and nose gear. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 5 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
During a solo training flight, a student pilot damaged the nose landing gear and propeller during a touch-and-go landing at another airport. Unaware of the damage, the student continued to a practice area and later returned to the origin, causing further damage on final landing.
Incident Overview
During a local area solo training flight, a student pilot flew to another local airport to conduct a touch-and-go landing. The landing resulted in the shearing off of the nose landing gear and damage to the propeller. The student pilot, apparently unaware of the damage, then flew to the local practice area, conducted maneuvers for an unknown period of time, and proceeded back to the point of origin for a final landing.
Damage Details
During the final landing, further damage was sustained to the remains of the nose landing gear assembly, propeller, and the right outer wing leading edge. Examination of the failed nose landing gear axle bolt revealed the bolt failed in overload.