Airplane Damaged After Nose Gear Strikes Hole on Landing Roll

Event Description

A pilot reported an uneventful landing on a gravel and turf runway. During the landing roll, the airplane drifted approximately 20 feet to the left of the runway centerline. The pilot corrected back toward the centerline. As the airplane returned to the centerline, the nose landing gear dropped into a large hole that had not been noticed prior to the event.

Damage and Stopping

The airplane came to an immediate stop. The impact with the hole resulted in substantial damage to the firewall. No other damage was reported.

Mechanical Status

The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident. The event was attributed entirely to the encounter with the hole.