Flight instructor and student reported a loss of aircraft control during landing resulted in a collapsed nose gear and propeller strike.
Synopsis
Flight instructor and student reported a loss of aircraft control during landing resulted in a collapsed nose gear and propeller strike.
Narrative
Owner/pilot recently purchased the mishap aircraft being flown and requested complex/high performance flight instruction. The instructional flight originated from ZZZ1; departing uneventfully; and landing successfully at ZZZ2 where we topped the aircraft off with fuel in the main wing tanks and aft aux tank. Departing ZZZ2 uneventfully some general flight maneuvers (turns; climbs; descents) were completed in the area South of ZZZ3. Due to wind direction being reported on the AWOS at ZZZ4 we determined that ZZZ in lieu of ZZZ1; with a runway more aligned into the wind; would be a good choice to complete some stop and go's and run through the complex aircraft procedures in the traffic pattern. Wind at ZZZ was approximately 330. We set the aircraft up on downwind for Runway XX and deployed the gear. We confirmed the gear was down and locked with 'three green' indicating. Once the aircraft was established on final I looked down and confirmed the gear was indicating 'three green' and verbalized this to the pilot. The approach to landing was generally stable. Due to the slight gusting crosswind the approach to landing was completed at a slightly higher indicated airspeed than what the POH recommended; approx. 100mph IAS. The pilot was slightly left of center line when entering the flare for landing. The airplane touched down slightly; became airborne again; then settled down to the runway; touching down a little 'flat' with the nose gear impacting the same time as the main gear. The landing; in my opinion; was not 'hard'. As the aircraft began to roll out; directional control appeared to be lost by the pilot and the aircraft began to turn left towards the edge of the runway. About the time that I felt I needed to assist by deploying the right pedal the nose gear collapsed; the prop struck the runway surface; and the aircraft skidded to a stop just on the left edge of the runway. While securing the aircraft I looked down and; even though the nose gear appeared to have collapsed; the gear indication was still 'three green'.After securing the aircraft the pilot and I deplaned and began to inspect the damage to the aircraft. Some bystanders came over to assist. We determined we could possibly get the aircraft's nose gear to extend. A few of us put weight on the tail of the aircraft while the pilot/owner pulled the nose gear down to extension. As soon as the nose gear was in the locked position the left main retracted. We then attempted to get the left main gear to extend by raising the left wing. As soon as the left main was extended the right main gear retracted. The pilot/owner then entered the cabin and 'pumped up' the hydraulic pressure by the manual hand pump. With the assistance of additional bystanders that arrived we were able to raise the right wing. As soon as the right main was again extended by the owner/pilot the left main again retracted. With the assistance again of bystanders the left wing was raised to deploy the left main gear. While being raised I entered the cabin and pumped the hand pump to ensure proper hydraulic pressure was achieved and we were able to get the left main extended. The aircraft; now on all three gear; was able to be towed to a hanger. Damage to the aircraft appeared to be to the propeller and nose gear door. It appears that the hydraulic system was not achieving proper pressure to keep all three gear down and in the locked position. Possibly contributing to the mishap was the pilot's 'flat' landing and additional pressure on the nose gear from this landing.
Second reporter narrative
Nose gear collapsed at landing.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.