Accident Details
On September 15, 2010, at approximately 1500 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-34-200T (registration N2872S) operated by the Citrus County Sheriff's Department was substantially damaged when the nose landing gear collapsed during landing at Inverness Airport (15FL), Inverness, Florida. The certificated commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local public use flight.
Pilot Statement
According to a written statement from the pilot, the flight was intended for three practice takeoffs and landings in the local airport traffic pattern. After an uneventful takeoff, the pilot completed the before landing checklist while on the downwind leg. Verifying normal indications, he utilized a short field landing technique on runway 19. Upon applying brakes and retracting flaps, a "bang" was heard as the nose landing gear collapsed and folded into the wheel well. The pilot attempted to keep the nose up and shut down both engines. The nose settled onto the runway, and both propellers struck the surface. The airplane skidded about 200 to 300 yards to the east side of the runway.
Post-Accident Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane. The nose landing gear actuator mounting bracket had separated from its respective bulkhead. Further inspection by operator maintenance personnel revealed that the rivets attaching the bracket to the bulkhead had sheared vertically. The upper nose landing gear drag link attachment bolt was bent. Maintenance personnel noted similar bending had been observed after previous hard landings.
Maintenance and Service Bulletins
The most recent annual inspection was completed on April 4, 2010, at 4,042 total flight hours. Only one additional hour had been flown since. A mandatory service bulletin from the airframe manufacturer, dated April 20, 2006, emphasized expanded periodic inspection requirements and introduced design-improved parts. It specifically advised inspecting for loose mounting rivets attaching the actuator mounting bracket to the tunnel aft of the attachment bulkhead. Operator maintenance personnel stated they were not familiar with the service bulletin but indicated the specified inspections would be completed during a routine annual inspection.
Pilot Experience
The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with numerous ratings, including airplane multiengine land. He reported 3,200 total flight hours, 640 of which were in the accident airplane make and model. In the 90 days preceding the accident, he logged 11 hours: 10 in rotorcraft and 1 in a single engine airplane.
Airport and Weather Conditions
According to FAA airport data, runway 19 at 15FL was 3,762 feet long by 60 feet wide. The pilot reported that only 2,500 feet was available due to construction. The recorded weather at Crystal River Airport (CGC), about 14 nautical miles west, at 1455 included winds from 100 degrees at 11 knots, few clouds at 5,000 feet, 10 statute miles visibility, temperature 33°C, dewpoint 20°C, and altimeter 30.02 inches of mercury. Interpolation of a PA-34-200T landing distance performance chart showed that under the existing conditions, a short field landing procedure required about 2,100 feet to clear a 50-foot obstacle.