History of Flight
On October 31, 2012, about 0930 eastern daylight time, a Piaggio P180 Avanti airplane, registration N401WS, exited the runway while landing at Boyne City Municipal Airport (N98) in Boyne City, Michigan. The flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91 as a positioning flight, with an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan filed. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated from Willow Run Airport (KYIP) about 0820. The airline transport pilot and commercial pilot on board were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage.
The pilot reported that the nose wheel steering was not engaged during landing. After touchdown, the airplane made an uncommanded left turn. The pilot applied landing gear braking and reverse thrust but could not prevent the airplane from veering left and departing the runway. The airplane struck the airport perimeter fence and a tree before coming to rest.
Personnel Information
The pilot, age 63, held an airline transport pilot certificate with single-engine land, multi-engine land, rotorcraft-helicopter, and instrument ratings. He had a first-class medical certificate issued July 18, 2012, with a correction for corrective lenses. He reported 11,506 total flight hours, including 665 in the accident make and model. He had flown 85 hours in the preceding 90 days and met IFR currency requirements.
The co-pilot, age 28, held a commercial pilot certificate with single-engine land, multi-engine land, and instrument ratings, and was a certified flight instructor for single-engine land airplanes. He had a first-class medical certificate issued March 12, 2012, with no limitations. He reported 645 total flight hours, with 109 in the accident make and model, and 33 hours in the previous 90 days.
Aircraft Information
According to maintenance logbooks, the airplane was in compliance with an Approved Aircraft Inspection Program (AAIP), with the most recent inspections completed on October 24, 2012. The accident flight was the third flight following a D-Check that included overhaul of the nose landing gear, both main landing gears, and both engines. FAA Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2009-21-08 Rev 1 was last completed on October 24, 2012, addressing uncommanded steering actions due to potential leakage in the Steering Select/Bypass Valve.
The nose landing gear and steering manifold were overhauled by Advantage Aviation Technologies II, LLC (AAT) on September 12, 2012, and August 17, 2012, respectively. The steering manifold was overhauled per Component Maintenance Manual (CMM) 32-50-50, Revision 6. A logbook entry dated October 24, 2012, indicated the nose landing gear was re-installed on the accident airplane.
Meteorological Information
At 0914, the automated weather report for Charlevoix, Michigan (13 nautical miles northwest) reported wind from 360 degrees at 14 knots gusting to 24 knots, visibility 7 miles, overcast clouds at 1,600 feet, temperature 39°F, dew point 36°F, and altimeter 29.69 inches of mercury.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The airplane veered off the left side of the runway, crossed short grass, and struck the airport perimeter fence and a tree. Tire skid marks on the runway and grass led to the upright rest position near the fence. The nose wheel impacted the ground and remained fully deflected to the left.
Tests and Research
Postaccident examination of the nose landing gear steering system was conducted. The nose landing gear was removed and sent to the manufacturer (Messier-Bugatti-Dowty, UK) for further testing. Testing per Piaggio Service Bulletin 80-0249 revealed that the steering actuator moved from center to full extension in 48 seconds and later in 22 seconds, failing the requirement. Hydraulic fluid analysis found no contamination.
Tests per CMM 32-20-58 and CMM 32-50-50 identified multiple failures, including improper feedback potentiometer positioning, hard-over steering under pressure, and defects in the select/bypass valve components such as out-of-specification gaps and scoring. The steering manifold failed several test steps. Servo valve testing at Parker in Germany revealed no malfunctions.
Additional Information
A cockpit voice recorder review found no anomalies. A similar event occurred on April 24, 2013, involving another Piaggio P180 with a nose landing gear overhauled by the same facility.