On July 20, 1999, a Beech 55 (registration N56AW) operated by Robert M. Whitmore was involved in an aviation accident near Nashville, TN. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The total failure of the nose gear extension and retraction assembly that resulted in the collapse of the nose gear during landing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A multi-engine training flight experienced a nose landing gear collapse after a normal touchdown on runway 20C. The nose wheel assembly failed, causing the airplane to slide 2500 feet.
Incident Details
According to the pilot, the multi-engine training flight was cleared for a landing on runway 20C. The before-landing checklist was completed, and the landing gear extension was verified by both pilots. The landing on the main wheels was described as normal. However, when the nose wheel was lowered onto the runway, both pilots heard a 'pop' followed by the collapse of the nose wheel assembly. The airplane slid 2500 feet before stopping on the runway.
Post-Accident Examination
The post-accident examination of the airplane disclosed that the nose landing gear aft drag brace had broken. Maintenance history of the failed component was not available.