Accident Details
On July 21, 2008, at 1030 eastern daylight time, a Maule MT-7-235, registration N142CP, nosed over during the landing roll at Richard B. Russell Airport (RMG) in Rome, Georgia. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airline transport pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions were present at the time, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight. The aircraft had departed RMG at 1015 the same day.
Aircraft and Operator
The airplane was registered to and operated by the Civil Air Patrol Incorporated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91.
Pilot Statement
According to the pilot, the nose gear collapsed during the initial touchdown. As the airplane decelerated, the propeller contacted the ground, causing the aircraft to stop abruptly and nose over inverted.
Examination Findings
An examination conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the nose gear oleo strut was broken and the firewall was buckled. The oleo strut was forwarded to the National Transportation Safety Board materials laboratory for further analysis. Laboratory examination showed that all fractures occurred on a slant plane and were consistent with overstress fracture. No evidence of pre-existing fatigue cracking or corrosion was found.