Beech 95-B55 Nose Gear Failure During Approach at New Tempe (ZS-KHC)

Incident Overview On 13 June 2002, a Beech 95-B55 with registration ZS-KHC was conducting a private flight from a private strip on a farm in the Hoopstad area to New Tempe aerodrome, located just outside Bloemfontein. The pilot-in-command held a private licence and had 385.15 total flying hours, including 132.45 hours on type. The weather was reported as fine, and one person was on board. ## Sequence of Events While positioned on a left downwind for Runway 28, the pilot selected the landing gear down. Only two gear-down lights illuminated, indicating that the two main wheels were down and locked. The pilot cycled the gear several times but was unable to obtain three green lights. The tower confirmed that the nose wheel assembly was not extended. The pilot climbed to 6,000 feet and cycled the gear again, with no success. The emergency gear-down procedure in the Pilot’s Operating Handbook was followed, but the nose wheel still would not extend. As a last resort, the pilot performed several steep-turn manoeuvres, which also failed to lower the nose wheel. ## Forced Landing A forced landing with the nose wheel retracted was decided. With emergency personnel in position, the pilot approached at approximately 70 knots and landed on the two main wheels, keeping the nose high for as long as possible. The aircraft came to a stop after the nose skidded for approximately 57 metres along the runway. No injuries were reported.