Additional Participating Entities:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Atlanta, Georgia
Piper Aircraft Inc; Vero Beach, Florida
Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
http://registry.faa.gov/N1982F
Accident Number: ERA16LA121
Date & Time: 03/01/2016, 1543 EST
Registration: N1982F
Aircraft: PIPER PA46
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Landing gear collapse
Injuries: 3 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
On March 1, 2016, at 1543 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-46-350P, N1982F, was substantially damaged after a nose gear collapse during landing rollout at McKinnon St. Simons Island Airport (SSI), Brunswick, Georgia. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the personal flight operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight departed from Florida Keys Marathon Airport (MTH), Marathon, Florida, about 1330.
The pilot stated that during the first approach to runway 16 at SSI, he performed a go-around due to some conflicting traffic in the airport traffic pattern. During the second approach, he configured the airplane the same as the first approach, with the manifold pressure at 16 inches, landing gear extended, and flaps extended 36° on final approach while trying to maintain an airspeed of 85 to 90 knots. The automated surface observation system was reporting the wind varying between 140° and 190° at 10 knots; however, the pilot observed the wind sock and a flag at that airport and estimated the wind speed as stronger, gusting up to 15 knots. As the airplane approached the runway, the wind gusts appeared stronger and he had difficulty keeping the airplane level. Just prior to touchdown, the pilot felt left-quartering wind gusts, and as the airplane touched down on the main landing gear, the landing appeared to be normal. Then, as the nose gear touched down, he heard a "pop" and then started "losing control of the nose." The nose continued to drop and he applied aft pressure on the control wheel and attempted to maintain directional control until the airplane came to a stop. He then instructed the passengers to evacuate and he performed the emergency procedures for shutdown, then egressed the airplane. The pilot added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane and that to the best of his knowledge, the main landing gear remained on the ground after touchdown.
Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that it had incurred substantial damage during the landing. The area of the nose landing gear bay exhibited crush damage with, the firewall was deformed, the wing leading edges were dented, and the fuselage displayed areas of compression buckling of the top and sides just forward of the windscreen. The nose landing gear assembly was attached on the left side, however the attaching bolt was bent and the right side mounting point was broken and separated from its attachment point. The nose landing gear actuator extended 6.8 inches, which according to the airframe manufacturer, was consistent with extension to the down and locked position. This area of the nose gear assembly displayed gouging and missing material consistent with ground impact. One of the composite propeller blades had separated near the root, and the other two blades exhibited damage at the tips, as well as scraping along the leading edges.
Examination of runway 16 revealed scrape marks consistent with propeller strikes along the centerline, about 800 feet from the threshold. There were 15 scrapes in a row, each about 12 inches long, oriented perpendicular to the runway. The row was about 15 feet long. About 2,000 feet down the runway and 20 feet to the right of the centerline, similar propeller scrapes were observed followed by longitudinal scars about 20 feet long, consistent with the color of the cowling in the nose gear area. No marks were observed for the next 150 feet, where the longitudinal scrapes resumed at the runway's right edge and continued another 250 feet to where the airplane came to rest on the paved area along the right side of the runway.
According to FAA and maintenance records, the airplane was manufactured in 2012. The airplane's most recent 100 hour inspection was completed on October 14, 2015. At the time of the inspection, the airplane had accumulated 569 total hours of flight time.
The recorded wind at SSI, at 1553, was from 150° at 9 knots.
Pilot Information
Certificate: Private
Age: 70, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 06/12/2015
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 02/09/2016
Flight Time: 4544 hours (Total, all aircraft), 255 hours (Total, this make and model), 4436 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 30 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 17 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 0 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: PIPER
Registration: N1982F
Model/Series: PA46 350P
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2012
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 4636556
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 6
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 10/14/2015, 100 Hour
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 4299 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 42 Hours
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 568.8 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: LYCOMING
ELT: C126 installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: TIO-540-AE2A
Registered Owner: VALAQSUR LLC
Rated Power: 350 hp
Operator: VALAQSUR LLC
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: SSI, 24 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1553 EST
Direction from Accident Site: 16°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 9 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 150°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.02 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 19°C / 14°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: MARATHON, FL (MTH)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR
Destination: Brunswick, GA (SSI)
Type of Clearance: IFR
Departure Time: 1330 EST
Type of Airspace:
Airport Information
Airport: MCKINNON ST SIMONS ISLAND (SSI)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 18 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 16
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 3313 ft / 75 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Full Stop; Traffic Pattern
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 2 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 3 None
Latitude, Longitude: 31.151667, -81.391111 (est)
NTSB Identification: ERA16LA121
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Tuesday, March 01, 2016 in Brunswick, GA
Aircraft: PIPER PA 46 350P, registration: N1982F
Injuries: 3 Uninjured.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On March 1, 2016, at 1515 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-46-350P, N1982F, was substantially damaged after a nose gear collapse during landing rollout at McKinnon St. Simons Island Airport (SSI), Brunswick, Georgia. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the personal flight operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight departed from Florida Keys Marathon Airport (MTH), Marathon, Florida, about 1330.
The pilot stated that during landing on runway 16 at SSI, as the airplane touched down on the main landing gear, the landing appeared to be normal. Then, as the nose gear touched down, he heard a "pop" and then started "losing control of the nose". As the nose continued to drop, he applied aft pressure on the control wheel and attempted to maintain directional control until the airplane came to a stop. He then instructed the passengers to evacuate, performed the emergency procedures for shutdown, and then egressed.
Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that it had incurred substantial damage during the landing. The area of the nose landing gear bay exhibited crush damage, the firewall was deformed, the wing leading edges were dented, and the fuselage displayed areas of compression buckling of the top and sides just forward of the windscreen. One propeller blade had separated near the root, and the other two blades exhibited significant damage at the tips, as well as scraping along the leading edges.
Examination of runway 16 revealed scrape marks consistent with propeller strikes along the centerline, about 800 feet from the threshold. There were 15 scrapes in a row, each about 12 inches long, oriented transverse (at right angles) to the runway. The row was about 15 feet long. About 2,000 feet down the runway and 20 feet to the right of the centerline, similar propeller scrapes were observed followed by some longitudinal scars about 20 feet long, consistent with the color of the cowling in the nose gear area. No marks were observed for the next 150 feet, where the longitudinal scrapes resumed at the runway's right edge and continued another 250 feet to where the airplane came to rest on the paved area along the right side of the runway.
According to FAA and maintenance records, the airplane was manufactured in 2012. The airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed on October 14, 2015. At the time of the inspection, the airplane had accumulated 569 total hours of flight time.
The airplane was retained by the NTSB for further examination.
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