What happened
On October 22, 2021, a Beechcraft 58, registration PR-MEJ, was performing a private ferry flight from Primavera do Leste to Rondonópolis, Mato Grosso. The flight was operated by a single pilot. During the landing roll at Maestro Marinho Franco Airport (SBRD), the nose landing gear collapsed, causing the aircraft to lose directional control and veer off the right side of the runway.
The pilot was uninjured, and the aircraft sustained light damage.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the aircraft's maintenance records and the pilot's credentials. The pilot held a valid commercial license and medical certificate, and the aircraft was within its weight and balance limits with up-to-date maintenance logs. The aircraft had undergone a 100-hour inspection and airworthiness verification just four days prior to the event.
Investigators reviewed airport surveillance footage, which confirmed the landing occurred within the runway markings but showed the nose gear collapsing during the landing roll. The pilot reported experiencing significant vibrations during the earlier takeoff from Primavera do Leste, a phenomenon that had not occurred previously on that aircraft.
To determine the cause of the failure, the nose gear retraction assembly (Part Number 002-820017-1) was sent to the Institute of Aeronautics and Space (IAE) for metallurgical and microscopic analysis. The investigation also examined the maintenance facility responsible for the aircraft's recovery to ensure no other systemic issues existed in the landing gear system.
Findings
- The fractures in the nose gear assembly were caused by overload (stress exceeding the material's strength limits).
- The investigation could not rule out that the vibrations experienced during the initial takeoff contributed to excessive stress on the component, which eventually failed during landing.
- A sudden or hard impact of the nose gear during the landing touchdown was also considered a possible factor in the component failure.