Incident Overview
On July 22, 2017, at about 1700 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Zenith 601XL, registration N651JL, sustained substantial damage during landing at Aiken Municipal Airport (AIK), Aiken, South Carolina. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The personal flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed Hendersonville Airport (0A7), Hendersonville, North Carolina.
Pilot's Account
The pilot stated that he had completed a pre-buy inspection of the airplane in Hendersonville, North Carolina. He test flew the airplane and performed a couple of landings before purchasing it and flying home. Following an uneventful flight to AIK, after touchdown the nose landing gear began "shaking violently." He pulled back on the yoke, which resulted in a tail strike. The airplane then veered off the runway, and the nose landing gear collapsed when it contacted the ground a second time.
Examination Findings
An FAA inspector examined the airplane and found substantial damage to the firewall, leading edge of the left wing, and nose gear. The inspector noted that the airplane touched down approximately 800 feet past the threshold of runway 25. About 65 feet from the runway, there were tire marks in the grass from the two main wheels and divots from the nose landing gear fairing. Examination of the nose landing gear lower bearing, a nylon block, revealed that it was fractured.
Maintenance and History
No maintenance history specific to the lower nose landing gear bearing was available. In the previous 14 years, the airplane had four different owners and accumulated about 271 total hours. The two-seat, low wing, tricycle landing gear-equipped airplane was powered by a Lycoming O-235, 116-horsepower engine.
Pilot Information
The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, airplane single-engine sea, airplane multiengine land, and instrument airplane. He also possessed a mechanic certificate with ratings for airframe and powerplant. He reported 4,515 hours of total flight experience, with 11 hours in the accident airplane make and model. His most recent FAA third-class medical certificate was issued on December 5, 2016, with the limitation "must wear corrective lenses."
Weather Conditions
The 1815 weather report at AIK included wind from 180° at 6 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; temperature 32° C; dew point 23° C; and altimeter setting 29.98 inches of mercury.