Piper PA-44 Nose Gear Collapse at Benešov Airport

Incident Overview and Aircraft Details On 20 April 2006, a Piper PA-44-180 with registration OK-MLR, operated by F AIR, s.r.o., was involved in an accident at Benešov Airport (LKBE). The aircraft, manufactured in 1980 with serial number 44-8095018, had a total airframe time of 3,687 hours. The pilot, a 50-year-old with 232 total hours and 59 hours on type, held a valid PPL with a multi-engine piston (MEP) rating and a valid medical certificate. One passenger was on board. ## Flight Progression and Damage The aircraft was conducting a visual flight rules (VFR) flight from Příbram (LKPM) to Benešov (LKBE). During landing on runway 24, the first ground contact occurred 22 meters before the runway threshold, followed by a bounce. The nose gear made a second contact on the grass surface 7.6 meters past the threshold. The impact caused the nose gear strut to break and the gear to retract violently into its bay. The aircraft's nose, left engine, and both propeller blades were damaged. The aircraft continued to taxi 46 meters before stopping, with its nose deflected 75 degrees to the left of the runway centerline. ## Investigation Findings and Cause The investigation, conducted by the Institute for Expert Investigation of Causes of Aircraft Accidents (ÚZPLN), determined that the technical condition of the aircraft, weather, and airport facilities did not contribute to the accident. The aircraft had a valid airworthiness certificate and insurance, and had been maintained according to applicable standards. The probable cause was identified as an incorrect landing assessment by the pilot, followed by an inability to correct the faulty landing after the bounce, resulting in a nose gear landing.