Aviation Accident Summary GAA18CA529

Hartford, CT, USA

Aircraft #1

N178DB

Piper PA46

Analysis

The pilot reported that, during the approach, the tower controller instructed him to stay "high and close." Once he turned to final, he reduced the power, and the airplane began rapidly descending. He added that he applied some power and back pressure to arrest the descent rate as he began to flare, but the airplane landed hard and faster than normal. As the nose landing gear touched down, he applied reverse thrust and braked aggressively. Subsequently, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and engine mount. The pilot reported that postaccident examination revealed that a nose landing gear actuator bolt had sheared off. The pilot reported that the primary cause of the accident was his failure to maintain a stabilized approach, which resulted in a hard landing and higher-than-normal ground speed upon touchdown.

Factual Information

The pilot reported that, during approach, the control tower instructed him to stay "high and close". Once he turned final, he reduced the power and the airplane began a rapid descent. He added that, he applied some power and back pressure to arrest the descent rate as he began to flare, but the airplane landed hard and faster than normal. As the nose landing gear touched down, he applied reverse thrust and braked aggressively, subsequently, the nose landing gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and engine mount. The pilot reported that a post-accident examination revealed that a landing gear actuator bolt, in the nose landing gear, had sheared. The pilot reported that the primary cause of the incident was his failure to maintain a stabilized approach, which resulted in a combination of a hard landing and higher than normal ground speed upon touchdown exacerbated by the force applied as he aggressively applied the brakes and reverse thrust.

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot’s unstabilized approach and hard landing, which resulted in a nose landing gear collapse.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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