Accident Details
During a local training flight, a flight instructor with 485 hours of flight experience and a student pilot with 11 hours were practicing crosswind landings. The landing was conducted on Runway 17R. Shortly after touchdown, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane began to skid down the runway. As the pilot attempted to bring the aircraft to a stop, the propeller and left wing contacted the ground.
Wind conditions at the time of the mishap were reported from 180 degrees at 11 knots.
Post-Accident Examination
An examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the axle for the nose landing gear was missing. The axle was later located along the centerline of the runway. The lock nut that secures the axle to the landing gear assembly was not found, and the reason for its absence was not determined.
Maintenance History
The last annual inspection of the aircraft was completed on October 24, 2005, approximately 22.2 flight hours prior to the mishap. No recent maintenance had been reported on the nose landing gear assembly.