Nose gear collapse during landing at runway 35

Casualties unknown • Mena, AR, US

A twin-engine aircraft experienced a nose gear collapse and left main gear failure following a series of hard landings on an asphalt runway.

What happened

During a visual approach to runway 35, a private pilot with 7,600 total flight hours confirmed that the landing gear was extended. Upon touching down on the 5,000-foot long, 75-foot wide asphalt runway, the pilot noticed a lower than usual nose attitude. In response, the pilot applied aft pressure to the yoke, which caused the twin-engine airplane to become airborne again.

As the aircraft settled back onto the runway, the nose landing gear collapsed and the plane veered to the left. The incident resulted in no fatalities or injuries.

The investigation

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the aircraft and determined that the pilot made a hard nose wheel landing which caused the airplane to bounce back into the air. Following this second hard landing, the nose wheel blew out and the left main gear collapsed. At the time of the accident, the wind was reported as light and variable.

Probable cause

The pilot performed a hard nose wheel landing that caused the aircraft to bounce, followed by a second hard landing that resulted in a nose wheel blowout and the collapse of the left main landing gear.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2006-06-02 Piper PA-23-250 accident near Mena, AR?

A twin-engine aircraft experienced a nose gear collapse and left main gear failure following a series of hard landings on an asphalt runway.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2006-06-02 involved a Piper PA-23-250, registration N950RM, at Mena, AR.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot performed a hard nose wheel landing that caused the aircraft to bounce, followed by a second hard landing that resulted in a nose wheel blowout and the collapse of the left main landing gear.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20060719X00965. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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