Synopsis
On 18 October 2001, a Piper PA-28-R200 aircraft, registration ZS-LZF, was involved in an accident during a training flight. The aircraft, operated by an unknown operator, departed from Grahamstown (FAGT) and intended to land at Port Alfred (FAPA). The pilot-in-command held a commercial pilot license with 833 total flying hours, including 63.7 hours on type. The flight was conducted under visual meteorological conditions with fine weather and wind from 280° at 25-35 knots.
Events
The instructor and student had departed Port Alfred earlier for a flight to Grahamstown. Following a successful touch-and-go landing at Grahamstown, the gear-in-transit light remained illuminated. Numerous unsuccessful attempts to resolve the problem were made, and the pilot elected to return to Port Alfred. Upon arrival, further attempts to lower the nose gear failed. A decision was made to land with only the main gear extended.
Landing and Damage
The aircraft landed with the nose gear in the retracted position. The damage was limited to the propeller, bottom nose cowling, and undercarriage doors. Both occupants were uninjured.
Probable Cause
The accident was caused as a direct result of the failure of the shimmy damper bracket, which caused the shimmy damper to hook onto the side of the wheel well at the hinge of the left nose gear door. This caused the nose undercarriage to become stuck in the up position. The failure of the shimmy damper bracket occurred due to metallurgical defects in the material. Severe porosity and segregation was observed throughout the bracket.