Accident Overview
On April 5, 2013, at approximately 1150 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 414, registration N37480, operated by a private individual, veered off the runway while landing at Hammonton Municipal Airport (N81), Hammonton, New Jersey. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot was not injured, and the commercial pilot-rated passenger received minor injuries.
Flight Details
The flight originated from Montgomery County Airpark (GAI) in Gaithersburg, Maryland, about 1105, and was destined for N81. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The personal flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The airplane was being repositioned to N81 for an insurance adjuster and local mechanic to inspect previous claim work from ground handling damage following Hurricane Sandy.
Pilot Information
According to FAA records, the pilot held a private certificate with ratings for airplane single- and multiengine land. His most recent FAA third class medical certificate was issued on January 2, 2013. As of the accident date, he reported 587 total hours of flight experience, including 120 hours in the same make and model.
Aircraft Information
The seven-seat, twin-engine, low-wing, retractable tricycle-gear airplane was manufactured in 1977. It was equipped with two Continental Motors TSIO-520, 520-hp engines. The most recent annual inspection was completed on October 26, 2012, at which time the airplane had accumulated 9,335 total hours in service. The number one and two engines had approximately 735 and 157 total hours since overhaul, respectively. The airplane had flown about three hours since the annual inspection.
Accident Sequence
The pilot reported lowering the landing gear during the approach to runway 03 and confirmed extension via landing gear position indicator lights. Immediately after touchdown, the airplane veered left. Despite full right rudder input, the airplane continued left, departing the left side of the runway, striking several trees, and subsequently being engulfed in a post-crash fire.
Weather and Airport
The 1154 recorded weather at Atlantic City International Airport (ACY), about 15 miles southeast, included wind from 330 degrees at 13 knots, 10 miles visibility, few clouds at 1,600 feet, temperature 11°C, dew point 4°C, and barometric altimeter setting 29.83 inches of mercury. N81 was a non-tower-controlled airport with one asphalt runway oriented 03/21, 3,601 feet long and 75 feet wide, field elevation 65 feet mean sea level.
Post-Accident Examination
An FAA inspector examined the accident site. The left wing impacted several 4- to 6-inch-diameter trees before separating. The airplane spun left, and fuel from the severed wing splashed on the nose section and hot left engine, igniting and causing substantial damage to the left engine and forward left fuselage.
Examination revealed the nose landing gear (NLG) had separated from its mount at the nose trunnion. The left NLG trunnion lug had sheared from the trunnion assembly. The fractured lug was sent for fractographic examination, which revealed a pre-existing crack approximately 0.015 inch deep at the time of final fracture. The fractured component was originally from a Cessna 310 airplane and had accumulated approximately 20,000 service hours.
Maintenance History
According to maintenance records, on March 12, 2013, the nose gear attached tunnel and forward bulkhead were repaired as part of a filed insurance claim, and the nose gear trunnion assembly was replaced. Cessna Multi-engine Service Bulletin MEB88-5 (Revision 2) recommended surface eddy current or alternate fluorescent penetrant inspection for the side lug area, but this bulletin was not federally mandated. The trunnion assembly installed on the accident airplane received only a visual examination prior to installation.