Casualties unknown

2007-04-16: Piper PA-46-350P (N4946R) — Richard Hewitt — Fort Lauderdale, FL

Fort Lauderdale, FL, US

On April 16, 2007, a Piper PA-46-350P (registration N4946R) operated by Richard Hewitt was involved in an aviation accident near Fort Lauderdale, FL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The inadequate design of the engine mount by the manufacturer, resulting in collapse of the nose landing gear. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

During landing, an airplane veered left, departed the runway, and hit a runway light. The nose landing gear collapsed. Post-recovery examination revealed a fatigue fracture in the right foot of the nose landing gear actuator attach location.

Event Details

The pilot reported confirming that all landing gears were down and locked before landing. After what was described as a normal touchdown, the airplane began veering to the left. Despite the pilot applying right rudder input, the airplane traveled off the runway onto grass and collided with a runway light. The nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest upright.

Examination Findings

Following recovery, examination of the airplane revealed that the right two-piece foot was fractured at the nose landing gear actuator attach location. NTSB examination of the right foot showed evidence of fatigue, which covered a 90-degree arc and approximately 55 percent of the 0.07-inch wall thickness of the foot.

Maintenance Information

Service Bulletin (SB) 1103B, which is not mandatory for the operator of the accident aircraft and had not been complied with, calls for repetitive inspections of the engine mount for cracks in the area where the fatigue crack was located.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20070419X00439. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.