Accident Overview
A private pilot and a commercial pilot-rated passenger were involved in a landing accident at Hammonton Municipal Airport (N81), Hammonton, New Jersey. The aircraft, a seven-seat, twin-engine, low-wing, retractable tricycle-gear airplane manufactured in 1977, was substantially damaged when it veered off the runway after touchdown. The private pilot was not injured, while the commercial pilot-rated passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the personal flight that originated from Montgomery County Airpark (GAI) in Gaithersburg, Maryland, at approximately 1105, destined for N81.
Landing and Runway Excursion
The pilot reported lowering the landing gear during the approach to runway 03 and confirmed extension via landing gear position indicator lights. Immediately after touchdown, the airplane veered to the left. Despite the pilot applying full right rudder, the airplane continued left, departing the left side of the runway. It subsequently struck several trees and was engulfed in a post-crash fire.
Pilot and Aircraft Information
The pilot held a private certificate with ratings for airplane single- and multiengine land. His most recent FAA third class medical certificate was issued on January 2, 2013. As of April 5, 2013, the pilot reported 587 total flight hours, of which 120 hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane. The aircraft was equipped with two Continental Motors TSIO-520, 520-hp engines. Its most recent annual inspection was completed on October 26, 2012, at which time it had accumulated 9,335 total hours in service. The number one and two engines had approximately 735 and 157 hours since overhaul, respectively. The airplane had flown about three hours since the annual inspection.
Weather and Airport Information
The recorded weather observation at Atlantic City International Airport (ACY), about 15 miles southeast of the accident site, at 1154 included wind from 330 degrees at 13 knots, 10 miles visibility, few clouds at 1,600 feet, temperature 11°C, dew point 4°C, and a barometric altimeter setting of 29.83 inches Hg. N81 is a non-tower-controlled airport with one asphalt runway oriented 03/21, 3,601 feet long and 75 feet wide, at an elevation of 65 feet mean sea level.
Post-Accident Examination and Findings
Examination of the accident site by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the left wing impacted several 4- to 6-inch-diameter trees prior to separating from the aircraft. The airplane spun to the left, and fuel from the severed wing splashed onto the nose section and the hot left engine, igniting and causing substantial damage to the left engine and forward left fuselage. Post-accident examination also showed that the nose landing gear (NLG) had separated from its mount at the nose trunnion. The left NLG trunnion lug had sheared from the trunnion assembly. The fractured lug was sent to the manufacturer for fractographic examination, which revealed a pre-existing crack at the surface of the NLG trunnion lug, approximately 0.015 inch deep at the time of final fracture. Further investigation determined that the fractured component was taken from a Cessna 310 airplane and had accumulated approximately 20,000 service hours. According to maintenance records, on March 12, 2013, the nose gear attached tunnel and forward bulkhead were repaired as part of a filed insurance claim, and the nose gear trunnion assembly was replaced. Cessna Multi-engine Service Bulletin MEB88-5 (Revision 2) recommended a surface eddy current inspection for the side lug area, with an alternate fluorescent penetrant inspection. However, MEB88-5 was not a federally mandated requirement, and the trunnion assembly installed on the accident airplane had received only a visual examination prior to installation.