A PA44-180 on a training flight performing touch-and-go lndgs; the nose landing gear failed after a ...

Attributes
ACN	695121
Time
Date	200604
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	PA-44 Seminole Turbo Seminole
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	landing : roll
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 500 flight time type : 135
ASRS Report	695121
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	instruction : trainee
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : investigated other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

After a normal training flight; my student and I were in a right traffic pattern for runway 12R. We completed 2 touch-and-goes normally; but on the third landing; the nose gear collapsed after a firm touchdown on the mains. Though there was significant damage to the propellers; this event was classified as an incident. After researching this nose gear; I discovered that there was a service bulletin issued in 2005 for the bolt that connects the upper and lower drag links. This service bulletin (piper service bulletin 1156) indicates that with multiple extensions/retractions; this bolt can develop a weakness in the center of the bolt. On my incident; the bolt was sheared midway along the bolt. There was no airworthiness directive associated with this service bulletin that requires replacement of the bolt every 500 hours; and I discovered it had been 984 hours since the bolt was replaced. Additionally; the training environment requires significantly more gear cycles than the average number that was probably used to determine the 500 hour requirement. An airworthiness directive should be issued for this service bulletin and they should re-examine the 500 hour number. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter believes the failed scissors bolt contributed to the nose gear failure. Aircraft incurred damage to the propeller; engine and related sheet metal.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PA44-180 ON A TRAINING FLT PERFORMING TOUCH-AND-GO LNDGS; THE NOSE LNDG GEAR FAILED AFTER A FIRM LNDG. FOUND UPPER AND LOWER NOSE SCISSORS CONNECTION BOLT SHEARED.

Narrative: AFTER A NORMAL TRAINING FLT; MY STUDENT AND I WERE IN A R TFC PATTERN FOR RWY 12R. WE COMPLETED 2 TOUCH-AND-GOES NORMALLY; BUT ON THE THIRD LNDG; THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AFTER A FIRM TOUCHDOWN ON THE MAINS. THOUGH THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE PROPS; THIS EVENT WAS CLASSIFIED AS AN INCIDENT. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS NOSE GEAR; I DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A SVC BULLETIN ISSUED IN 2005 FOR THE BOLT THAT CONNECTS THE UPPER AND LOWER DRAG LINKS. THIS SVC BULLETIN (PIPER SVC BULLETIN 1156) INDICATES THAT WITH MULTIPLE EXTENSIONS/RETRACTIONS; THIS BOLT CAN DEVELOP A WEAKNESS IN THE CTR OF THE BOLT. ON MY INCIDENT; THE BOLT WAS SHEARED MIDWAY ALONG THE BOLT. THERE WAS NO AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SVC BULLETIN THAT REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF THE BOLT EVERY 500 HRS; AND I DISCOVERED IT HAD BEEN 984 HRS SINCE THE BOLT WAS REPLACED. ADDITIONALLY; THE TRAINING ENVIRONMENT REQUIRES SIGNIFICANTLY MORE GEAR CYCLES THAN THE AVERAGE NUMBER THAT WAS PROBABLY USED TO DETERMINE THE 500 HR REQUIREMENT. AN AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE SHOULD BE ISSUED FOR THIS SVC BULLETIN AND THEY SHOULD RE-EXAMINE THE 500 HR NUMBER. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR BELIEVES THE FAILED SCISSORS BOLT CONTRIBUTED TO THE NOSE GEAR FAILURE. ACFT INCURRED DAMAGE TO THE PROP; ENG AND RELATED SHEET METAL.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.

A PA44-180 on a training flight performing touch-and-go lndgs; the nose landing gear failed after a firm landing. Found upper and lower nose scissors connection bolt sheared.