What happened
On September 19, 2007, a Piper PA-42-720 was operating a flight from Copenhagen/Kastrup, Denmark, to Siegerland Airport. During the approach to Siegerland, the crew attempted to extend the landing gear but discovered that the nose gear failed to deploy. While the cockpit indicators showed the main landing gear were "green and locked," the nose gear remained in an "unlocked" state.
To verify the status, the crew performed a low pass over the control tower, which was captured by a witness via photography. The photos confirmed that the nose gear was stuck at an angle of approximately 40 degrees. The crew attempted to rectify the situation using both the emergency hand pump and the emergency nose gear extension nitrogen bottles, but these efforts were unsuccessful.
To ensure a safe arrival, the crew decided to perform a forced landing on the asphalt runway 31. The crew reduced the aircraft's weight by flying off a significant portion of the fuel. During the final approach, the engines were shut down and the propellers were placed in a feathered position. The aircraft touched down on the main gear, but the nose subsequently dropped to the runway. The aircraft slid along the asphalt until it came to a halt, causing damage to the nose section and the propellers. All two crew members and three passengers were able to exit the aircraft without injury.
The investigation
The BFU investigation focused on the mechanical failure of the nose gear assembly. Investigators examined the wreckage and found that the nose gear strut was extended at a 40-degree angle, with the nose wheel itself deflected 15 degrees to the left. The investigation revealed that the three attachment bolts connecting the gear control lever to the nose gear strut had sheared off.
Technical analysis of the nose gear mechanism showed that the steering guide rail, which is designed to center the nose wheel into a neutral position during retraction, was also deflected 15 degrees to the left. This misalignment prevented the gear from reaching the necessary zero position for safe retraction or extension.