Accident Overview
On December 15, 2014, at approximately 1030 central standard time, a Piper PA-46-350P airplane, registration N224JJ, departed the left side of runway at Sugar Land Regional Airport (SGR), Houston, Texas. The commercial rated pilot was not injured. The aircraft was registered to and operated by Dilkara Leasing LLC, Las Vegas, Nevada, under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight plan was filed. The flight had departed Georgetown Municipal Airport (KGTU), Georgetown, Texas, about 0940.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported crossing the runway threshold at 100 feet and 85 knots, touching down at approximately 80-85 knots. When the nosewheel contacted the runway, the airplane veered sharply left. Despite application of right rudder, the airplane continued off the left side of the runway. The nose gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest about 150 feet from the runway. After the accident, an operations supervisor from the Fixed Based Operator (FBO) inspected the marks on the runway; at the point where the nosewheel first contacted, it appeared the wheel had turned 90 degrees to the left.
Aircraft Damage and Inspection
Examination revealed damage to the propeller, nose landing gear, lower cowling, and substantial damage to the firewall. An FAA inspector noted that the engine mount had broken at the nose landing gear actuator attach point.
Service Bulletin History
Piper Aircraft, Inc. issued Service Bulletin 1103 on April 22, 2002, requiring inspection of engine mounts for cracks on Piper Malibu and Mirage aircraft at next scheduled maintenance, and each 100 hours or annual inspection thereafter. If cracks were found, the mount was to be replaced with a newly designed model featuring a one-piece foot at the nose gear actuator attach point. The latest version, Service Bulletin 1103E, was issued on June 5, 2014.
Maintenance Records
The accident airplane, a 1994 Piper PA-46-350P (serial number 4622155), had its last annual inspection on July 1, 2014, with total aircraft time of 2,024.0 hours. Service Bulletin 1103 had been accomplished during annual inspections in June 2011 (1,795 hours), June 2012 (1,849 hours), and May 2013 (1,900 hours). In July 2014 (1,993 hours), a visual inspection was performed but not documented in either the airframe or engine logs.