Event Description
The 7,600-hour private pilot was executing a visual approach to runway 35 and confirmed the landing gear was extended. After touching down on the 5,000-foot long, 75-foot wide asphalt runway, the pilot noticed a lower than usual nose attitude. He applied aft pressure on the yoke, which caused the airplane to become airborne. The pilot reported that upon settling back onto the runway, the nose landing gear collapsed and the airplane veered to the left.
Examination
An FAA inspector examined the twin-engine airplane and stated that the pilot made a hard nose wheel landing, which caused the airplane to bounce back into the air. The inspector added that on another hard landing, the nose wheel blew out and the left main gear collapsed. The pilot had accumulated approximately 300 hours in the same make and model of aircraft. The wind at the time was reported as light and variable.