2010-01 · NASA ASRS report 868293
A PA-34 with instructor and student experienced nose gear collapse on touchdown.
Myself and instructor (CFI ME) were on our third and final check-out flight in a Twin Seneca II aircraft. We had previously logged 1.2 hours and 4 normal landings earlier in the week. I needed a total of 5 hours of check-out in order to meet the insurance requirement for rental. We were making touch-and-gos. We had made 2 normal landings previously and were planning on a full stop this time. We put the gear down on the downwind leg and got 3-green lights indicated. We made a normal landing on the last 1/3 of the threshold with 30 degrees of flaps in. We set down on the back wheels first and the nose just kept coming down. There was no sensation that we even briefly touched on the nose gear. I maintained control of the aircraft as the plane skidded on its nose until it came to a complete stop. At that time I shut off the mags and master power; alternators and shut the fuel off. We exited the plane and observed no fuel leaking or any other fluids spilling out. Before they lifted the plane for towing I re-entered the plane; made note of the Hobbs time in the logbook which we left in the plane and I turned on the master switch and raised the flaps to prevent any possible or further damage to them during the tow.
I am a flight instructor checking out a certificated pilot and we were 4 hours into the multiengine check out of the 5 hour required by FAR's. On arrival in good conditions we performed a normal approach and made a touch/go and closed traffic. We stayed in the traffic pattern for a second touch and go; which was perfectly normal and then came around for a third landing to a full stop. The approach was normal and at correct speed and on rollout the nose wheel of that aircraft collapsed and we skidded to a stop. Upon examination of the nose wheel landing gear by mechanics at the scene they showed us the part; which had failed - a drag link which; apparently has an A.D. and it was cracked/corroded and was going to fail as it did.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.
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