Nose landing gear failure leads to propeller strike at Wycombe Air Park

Casualties unknown • Wycombe Air Park, Buckinghamshire, GB

A Piper Turbo Cherokee Arrow IV experienced a nose landing gear extension failure following a maintenance check, resulting in a nose-first landing and propeller damage.

What happened

On 14 July 2014, a Piper PA-28RT-201T Turbo Cherokee Arrow IV, registration G-BHFJ, was performing a private flight at Wycombe Air Park. During the downwind leg of the approach to Runway 2/4, the pilot deployed the landing gear but noticed that the red warning light remained illuminated, indicating the nose gear had not fully locked into position.

After moving the aircraft away from the active traffic circuit, the pilot attempted the emergency gear extension procedures, but the nose gear remained partially extended. The position of the gear was visually confirmed by air traffic control and the airfield fire service during a flypast of the control tower.

To manage the landing, the pilot and passenger—a fellow commercial pilot—coordinated a plan where the passenger would handle engine shutdown. As the aircraft reached approximately 70 ft above the ground, the passenger cut the engine. The aircraft touched down on its main wheels, but as it slowed, the nose settled onto the runway. This caused the propeller to strike the ground multiple times, resulting in damage to the propeller, the lower engine cowling, and the nose landing gear doors. There were no injuries to the two occupants.

The investigation

The AAIB examined the aircraft to determine why the nose gear failed to extend. The investigation established that a flexible fuel drain hose, located between the engine and the left side of the lower engine cowl, had disconnected from its fitting. This loose hose physically obstructed the movement of the nose landing gear leg, preventing it from reaching the fully extended position.

Further inspection of the maintenance history revealed that the aircraft had recently undergone a 50-hour maintenance check. The investigation found that the hose end fitting had not been sufficiently tightened when the lower cowl was reinstalled following that inspection.

Findings

  • The nose landing gear failed to extend because a loose fuel drain hose restricted the movement of the gear leg.
  • The hose had detached from its fitting at the lower engine cowl.
  • The hose end fitting was not fully tightened during the recent 50-hour maintenance check.
  • The maintenance task required the removal of the lower cowl, which necessitated the disassembly of the hose connection.

Probable cause

The nose landing gear failed to extend fully because a flexible fuel drain hose had become disconnected from its fitting, subsequently obstructing the gear leg's movement. This was caused by the failure to properly tighten the hose fitting during a recent 50-hour maintenance inspection.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2014-07-14 Piper PA-28RT-201T Turbo Cherokee Arrow IV accident near Wycombe Air Park, Buckinghamshire, GB?

A Piper Turbo Cherokee Arrow IV experienced a nose landing gear extension failure following a maintenance check, resulting in a nose-first landing and propeller damage.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2014-07-14 involved a Piper PA-28RT-201T Turbo Cherokee Arrow IV, registration G-BHFJ, at Wycombe Air Park, Buckinghamshire, GB.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The nose landing gear failed to extend fully because a flexible fuel drain hose had become disconnected from its fitting, subsequently obstructing the gear leg's movement. This was caused by the failure to properly tighten the hose fitting during a recent 50-hour maintenance inspection.

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