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37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
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PA-31 pilot reported the landing gear collapsed after landing.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1530853 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201803 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801-2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Dusk |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | PA-31 Navajo/Chieftan/Mojave/T1040 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Landing |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Landing Gear |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Single Pilot |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 69 Flight Crew Total 8001 Flight Crew Type 464 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft |
Narrative:
I was returning to land after completing an aerial survey mission. I was conducting a straight-in approach to runway xx. It was at dusk. Objects on the ground were still visible. After lining up on final I selected an initial approach flap setting of about 15 degrees. After slowing to 125 knots I selected gear down and verified 3 green gear down and locked lights and could visually see the nose gear was down in the convex gear mirror attached to the left engine nacelle. I verbally called out '3 green and one in the mirror;' and continued with calling out 'boost pumps on; fuel on mains.' I then selected full flaps and continued the approach. On short final I again checked the landing gear indicator lights and called out '3 green' and proceeded with approach and landing.touchdown was made within approximately the first 500-600 feet of the runway. The nose wheel came in contact with runway surface within approximately 200 feet or less. The landing roll seemed normal and continued for approximately another 1;000 feet. At about the midway point of the 5;500 foot runway the nose suddenly dropped to the ground. The airplane continued straight for a distance and then started to veer to the right as it slowed. As the airplane approached the right edge of the runway the right main gear collapsed and the airplane came to a complete stop. I then began shutting off the airplane systems with first turning off the battery master; placing the fuel selectors in the off position and placing the fuel cutoff selectors to off. Prior to leaving the pilot's seat I visually noticed the gear selector was in the neutral position where it returns after placed in the down or up position.it is my understanding this aircraft is equipped with a gear safety squat switch which should prevent the gear from retracting while on the ground. If it is installed; it failed to work properly as most; if not all of the airplane would have been on the landing gear at the speed to which [I] had slowed prior to the nose gear collapsing. To my knowledge I had not started the after landing sequence of turning off the fuel boost pumps; opening the cowl flaps; or selecting flaps up prior to the collapse of the nose gear.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PA-31 pilot reported the landing gear collapsed after landing.
Narrative: I was returning to land after completing an aerial survey mission. I was conducting a straight-in approach to Runway XX. It was at dusk. Objects on the ground were still visible. After lining up on final I selected an initial approach flap setting of about 15 degrees. After slowing to 125 knots I selected gear down and verified 3 green gear down and locked lights and could visually see the nose gear was down in the convex gear mirror attached to the left engine nacelle. I verbally called out '3 green and one in the mirror;' and continued with calling out 'boost pumps on; fuel on mains.' I then selected full flaps and continued the approach. On short final I again checked the landing gear indicator lights and called out '3 green' and proceeded with approach and landing.Touchdown was made within approximately the first 500-600 feet of the runway. The nose wheel came in contact with runway surface within approximately 200 feet or less. The landing roll seemed normal and continued for approximately another 1;000 feet. At about the midway point of the 5;500 foot runway the nose suddenly dropped to the ground. The airplane continued straight for a distance and then started to veer to the right as it slowed. As the airplane approached the right edge of the runway the right main gear collapsed and the airplane came to a complete stop. I then began shutting off the airplane systems with first turning off the battery master; placing the fuel selectors in the off position and placing the fuel cutoff selectors to off. Prior to leaving the pilot's seat I visually noticed the gear selector was in the neutral position where it returns after placed in the down or up position.It is my understanding this aircraft is equipped with a gear safety squat switch which should prevent the gear from retracting while on the ground. If it is installed; it failed to work properly as most; if not all of the airplane would have been on the landing gear at the speed to which [I] had slowed prior to the nose gear collapsing. To my knowledge I had not started the after landing sequence of turning off the fuel boost pumps; opening the cowl flaps; or selecting flaps up prior to the collapse of the nose gear.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.