Nose Gear Collapse During Takeoff Roll of Piper PA-34-220T HK2713 at Olaya Herrera Airport

Incident Overview and Operation Details On 7 August 2020, a Piper PA-34-220T with registration HK2713, operated by SAE Servicios Aéreos Especiales S.A.S. for air ambulance services, was preparing to depart from Olaya Herrera Airport in Medellín, Colombia, for Villavicencio. The aircraft had been conducting air ambulance operations in the region since 3 August, with flights to Quibdó, Nuquí, Barranquilla, and Montería. The crew was authorized to enter runway 02 for takeoff. After completing the checklist, the crew entered the runway and began turning to align with the runway centerline. At that moment, the aircraft's nose dropped abruptly, causing both propellers to strike the ground and the aircraft to stop. The pilots shut down the engines, cut electrical power, and initiated evacuation procedures. All four occupants—two pilots and two paramedics—exited the aircraft unharmed. No fuel leak or fire occurred. The incident was attended by airport firefighters from the Airplan concession. The event occurred in visual meteorological conditions. ## Aircraft Damage and Investigation Findings The aircraft sustained damage to the nose gear doors and nose gear, sudden stoppage of both engines, and deformation of both propellers from the root. The nose gear collapsed without evident fractures, while the doors were deformed by the impact. Both engines were removed for component inspection. The investigation determined that the probable cause was damage to the nose gear actuator terminal, part number 53-51, due to material wear. The terminal fractured in its central portion, leaving the main nose gear arm unsupported and causing its retraction. A contributing factor was the lack of information from the manufacturer regarding maintenance of the component, as service bulletins only required visual inspection every 100 hours and did not mandate removal and evaluation. The investigation issued three safety recommendations, two directed to SAE Servicios Aéreos Especiales S.A.S. and one to the Special Administrative Unit of Civil Aeronautics.