Accident Details
On July 22, 2014, about 0915 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-46-350 airplane, registration N60PB, experienced a nose landing gear collapse during the landing roll at Auburn Municipal Airport (S50), Auburn, Washington. The airplane was operated by a private pilot, who also held a commercial pilot certificate, and carried one additional commercial pilot and two passengers. No injuries were reported. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall and fuselage. The flight was conducted as a personal cross-country flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The airplane was registered to Ards Fly LLC and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Boeing Field, Seattle, Washington, at 0900, with a destination of Auburn.
Sequence of Events
According to the pilot, while in the traffic pattern for landing, the landing checklist was completed and all three landing gear indicator lights showed green. The touchdown was soft, and the pilot held the nose gear up as long as possible during the landing roll on the main gear. When the nose gear touched down, the airplane veered sharply to the left. The pilot applied right rudder and braking to avoid leaving the runway. The nose gear collapsed, and the airplane skidded to a stop.
Maintenance History
A review of the aircraft maintenance records showed that the last annual inspection was completed on August 20, 2013. On May 29, 2014, a logbook entry indicated that the main landing gear actuator upper attach bolts and the nose strut steering arm bolts were re-torqued. The following day, the nose landing gear sequence valve was adjusted, and the landing gear was swung through several cycles with the operation checked as satisfactory.
Service Bulletin
On June 5, 2014, Piper Aircraft issued Service Bulletin (SB) No. 1103E, which Piper considered mandatory compliance, to inspect the engine mount for cracks on PA-46-350P and PA-46R-350T airplanes. The SB noted that cracks may develop in the area of the nose gear actuator attach feet on the engine mount, and this condition can occur when the nose landing gear is subjected to excessive loads due to hard landings, rough field operations, excessive speed turns, improper towing, or other improper operations. No logbook entry indicated that this SB had been complied with.
Aftermath
The airplane was not made available for examination following the accident to determine the reason for the nose landing gear collapse. The pilot did not complete the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report Form 6120.1.