High-speed nose gear collapse during landing at Pietermaritzburg

Casualties unknown • Runway 16 at Pietermaritzburg, ZA

A Beech Baron sustained substantial damage after the nose landing gear collapsed during a high-speed touchdown at Pietermaritzburg Aerodrome.

What happened

On 30 June 2011, a Beech Baron BE58, registration ZS-MRL, was conducting a private local flight departing from Pietermaritzburg Aerodrome (FAPM). After approximately 20 minutes of flight, the pilot decided to return to the airfield for landing on Runway 16.

During the landing sequence, the pilot reported that the landing gear was properly extended and locked. However, instead of a standard touchdown, the aircraft struck the runway on its nose gear first. The impact occurred at an indicated airspeed of approximately 110kt, significantly exceeding the normal landing speed of 95kt. This high-speed impact caused the nose landing gear retracting rod to fail under compression, leading to a total collapse of the nose gear and causing the gear doors to close. The aircraft subsequently scraped the runway surface and came to rest at the edge of the runway. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage, including bent propeller blades and damage to the under-fuselage skin.

The investigation

SACAA AIID investigators examined the wreckage and the mechanical components of the landing gear assembly. The investigation included a metallurgical analysis of the nose landing gear retract rod and its associated rod-ends. The inquiry also reviewed the aircraft's maintenance records, noting that while the rod-ends had been replaced 261 hours prior to the incident, there were no specific maintenance records found for the retract rod itself. The investigation also considered the meteorological conditions, which were reported as CAVOK with calm winds, and confirmed that the pilot held a valid commercial license and medical certificate.

Findings

  • The primary cause of the incident was poor landing technique, specifically landing at an excessive speed.
  • The nose landing gear retracting rod failed due to an overload in compression caused by the high-speed nose-first touchdown.
  • Metallurgical analysis revealed that inadequacies in the maintenance or inspection of the nose landing gear retract rods and rod-ends had made the component vulnerable to failure when subjected to the landing impact.
  • The prevailing weather conditions were favorable and did not contribute to the accident.

Probable cause

The incident was caused by an improper landing technique involving an excessive approach speed, which subjected the nose landing gear to an overload it was not designed to withstand, compounded by insufficient inspection or maintenance of the retract rod components.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2011-06-30 Beech Baron accident near Runway 16 at Pietermaritzburg, ZA?

A Beech Baron sustained substantial damage after the nose landing gear collapsed during a high-speed touchdown at Pietermaritzburg Aerodrome.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2011-06-30 involved a Beech Baron, registration ZS-MRL, at Runway 16 at Pietermaritzburg, ZA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The incident was caused by an improper landing technique involving an excessive approach speed, which subjected the nose landing gear to an overload it was not designed to withstand, compounded by insufficient inspection or maintenance of the retract rod components.

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