ACFT DAMAGED AS NOSEWHEEL COLLAPSES DURING LNDG PROC ROLLOUT.

Narrative

AT THE COMPLETION OF AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLT A NORMAL LNDG WAS MADE TO RWY 22 AT CA35. SECONDS AFTER THE NOSEWHEEL TOUCHED THE RWY; A METALLIC SOUND WAS HEARD AND THE NOSEWHEEL COLLAPSED. THE AIRPLANE REMAINED ON THE RWY AND STOPPED WITHIN 300 FT. THE PLT AND I EXITED THE AIRPLANE AND IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED THE OPERATOR AND MAINT. THE AIRPLANE WAS REMOVED FROM THE RWY. THE COLLAPSE RESULTED FROM THE NOSEWHEEL PUSH ROD BREAKING AT THE POINT OF CONNECTION TO THE NOSEWHEEL GEAR ASSEMBLY. THE NORMAL LNDG WAS SMOOTH AND WITH A MINIMUM SINK RATE. THE NOSEWHEEL CONTACTED THE RWY WITH A SLIGHT BUMP; THE NOSEWHEEL COLLAPSED AND RETRACTED BACKWARD INTO THE WHEEL WELL. THE MECHANICAL FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY AGE AND FATIGUE ACCORDING TO THE OPERATOR; WHO IS ALSO AN A AND I. THE AIRPLANE IS 33 YRS OLD AND FOR THE PAST 5 YRS HAS BEEN USED ENTIRELY AS A TRAINER. DUE TO THE POS AND SIZE OF THE PART UNLESS FATIGUE CRACKS WERE LARGE AND OBVIOUS; THE DAMAGE WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO DISCOVER DURING A NORMAL PREFLT INSPECTION. THE OPERATOR (AN A AND I) STATED THAT HE WAS FAMILIAR WITH SIMILAR NOSEWHEEL FAILURE OF OTHER SMA ACFT. IF THIS IS TRUE; HOW COMMON IS THE MALFUNCTION AND ARE THERE ANY MAINT DIRECTIVES TO CTL THE PROB. CORRECTIVE ACTION: SPEND A LARGE AMOUNT OF TIME ON YOUR BACK VERY CLOSELY INSPECTING THE LNDG GEAR; WITH EMPHASIS ON CONNECTION POINTS AND ANY OTHER HIGH STRESS POINTS. DO NOT RENT AND FLY ACFT OLDER THAN 20 YRS UNLESS THE MAINT IS 'OUTSTANDING.'