What happened
On February 7, 2018, an Aero Commander 500-S, registration N590DR, was performing a commercial VFR flight from St. Thomas, USVI, to Canefield Airport, Dominica. The aircraft was carrying one pilot and seven passengers.
During the landing on runway 19, the aircraft's main wheels touched down, but shortly thereafter, the nose gear underwent an uncommanded retraction. This caused the underside of the aircraft's fuselage to scrape against the runway surface approximately 1,066 feet from the threshold. The aircraft eventually came to a stop about 2,050 feet from the runway threshold. Despite the impact, there were no injuries to the pilot or the seven passengers, and the engines and propellers remained undamaged due to the aircraft's high-wing configuration.
The investigation
An investigation team from the ECCAA, consisting of airworthiness and flight operations inspectors, examined the aircraft and interviewed the pilot, air traffic control personnel, and witnesses.
Inspectors found that while the nose gear was extended, it was not positively locked in the down position. The investigation revealed that the upper support mounting bracket for the nose gear actuator had broken, which likely allowed the actuator to become detached. Additionally, the underside skin of the fuselage showed grazing, and there were cracks in the nose wheel well.
Review of the flight records also noted that while the aircraft landed within approved weight limits, it had departed St. Thomas at a weight exceeding its maximum approved take-off mass. The aircraft was not equipped with flight recorders.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the uncommanded retraction of the nose gear following touchdown.
- The application of nose-down pressure on the control column by the pilot likely caused the nose wheel to strike the runway with enough force to break the nose gear actuator's mounting bracket.
- The aircraft departed its origin point over the maximum approved take-off mass.