Accident Synopsis
On January 9, 2011, at approximately 0751 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 310C, registration N1755H, collided with terrain near the approach end of runway 24 at General Wm J Fox Airfield (KWJF) in Lancaster, California. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The airline transport pilot, who was the sole occupant and owner of the airplane, reported no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the cross-country flight that originated from Daggett, California, at 0707.
Pilot Report
According to the pilot's written report to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the nose landing gear failed to fully retract after a practice approach to Palmdale Regional Airport, Palmdale, California. The pilot diverted to a nearby airport in Lancaster with the intent of landing on runway 24. He performed the "LANDING WITH DEFECTIVE NOSE GEAR" procedures as indicated in the owner's manual, but the nose gear remained in a mid-range position. Approximately one-quarter mile from the intended runway, with the main gear down and the nose gear in the mid-range position, the pilot placed the mixture levers to the "cut-off" position and the propeller levers to "feather." After doing so, the aim point rapidly shifted to approximately 500 feet short of the runway, and he inadvertently landed approximately 200 feet short of the paved surface.
Postaccident Examination
A postaccident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed substantial damage to the forward fuselage and wings. A secondary examination conducted by the pilot found that the nose landing gear centering roller mechanism was missing and most likely separated during the flight. According to the pilot, this caused the nose gear wheel assembly to not center during retraction, jamming the wheel assembly in the wheel well. The nose gear continued to cycle when jammed, ultimately separating the primary landing gear push-pull tube from the forward rod end, rendering the gear inoperative. It was not determined why the missing nose landing gear centering mechanism separated from the airframe in flight.
Emergency Procedures Checklist
The Emergency Procedures checklist for the accident airplane, under "LANDING WITH DEFECTIVE NOSE GEAR," indicated, in part, to land the airplane prior to placing the mixture levers to the idle cut-off position. The checklist made no reference to the propeller levers. The pilot reported that the wind during the accident was from 260 degrees at 23 knots.