Accident Details
On 28 September 2012 at 1204 UTC, a Piper PA-23-250 Aztec, registration G-BKJW, was involved in an accident at Southend Airport, Essex. The aircraft was manufactured in 1971 (serial number 27-4716) and was powered by two Lycoming IO-540-C4B5 piston engines. The flight was a private operation with one pilot and four passengers on board. The pilot held a Private Pilot's Licence and had 1,536 hours total flying experience, with 1,337 hours on type. The weather at the time was fine, with a surface wind from 240° at 17 kt.
Sequence of Events
The pilot was conducting a normal landing on Runway 24 following a local flight. The landing gear was selected down and three green ‘down’ indicator lights were obtained, along with visual confirmation that the nose gear was extended. The landing was normal until near the end of the landing roll when wheel braking was applied. The gear warning horn sounded, and two or three seconds later, as the aircraft was travelling at about 15 kt, the nose landing gear gently moved towards the retracted position. The aircraft’s nose lowered to the ground and both propellers contacted the runway. The aircraft came to a stop within about 20 m, and the pilot secured the aircraft. The five occupants were uninjured and vacated the aircraft through the cabin door as the airfield emergency services arrived.
Investigation
The aircraft was inspected by a local maintenance and repair organisation, which found no faults with the undercarriage system. Several retraction and extension cycles were carried out, each achieving positive downlock and green indicator lights for all three undercarriage legs. The cause of the accident was unresolved.
Damage
The accident resulted in damage to the propellers and the nose section of the aircraft. The engines were shockloaded during the event.