Incident Narrative
During a flight, following a low approach, the pilot retracted the landing gear. A loud bang or clank was heard at that moment. The landing gear in-transit light remained illuminated, indicating a problem. The aircraft proceeded to a practice area, where the pilots consulted with the flight school's maintenance personnel via radio. Attempts to correct the gear issue were unsuccessful.
The flight returned to the airport and executed a low pass near the air traffic control tower (ATCT). ATCT personnel observed that both main landing gear appeared down and locked, but the nose landing gear appeared to be partially extended. Subsequently, the airplane landed. When the nose gear made contact with the ground, it collapsed.
Post-Accident Examination
A post-landing examination of the airplane revealed that the nose gear actuator retract arm had fractured and was in two pieces. The retract arm was examined at the NTSB Materials Laboratory in Washington, D.C. The examination determined that the retract arm fractured as a result of fatigue cracking that initiated at multiple origins along machining marks on the upper surface of the fracture.
Probable Cause
The probable cause of the nose gear collapse was a fractured nose gear actuator retract arm due to fatigue cracking that initiated at multiple origins along machining marks on the upper surface of the fracture.