GENERAL INFORMATION
| Data Source |
ACCIDENT AND INCIDENT DATABASE |
| Report Number |
19950404006639I |
| Local Date |
04-APR-95 |
| City |
LOUISVILLE |
| State |
KY |
| Airport Name |
LOUISVILLE INTL-STANDIFORD FIELD |
| Event Type |
INCIDENT |
| Mid Air Collision |
NOT A MIDAIR |
AIRCRAFT INFORMATION
| Aircraft Damage |
MINOR |
| Aircraft Make |
PIPER |
| Aircraft Model |
PA60 |
| Aircraft Series |
601 |
| Operator |
GRAND AIRE EXPRESS |
| Primary Flight Type |
AIR TAXI (NON-SCHEDULED) |
| Secondary Flight Type |
FERRY |
| Type of Operation |
GENERAL OPERATING RULES |
| Registration Nbr |
162GA |
| Total Aboard |
1 |
| Fatalities |
0 |
| Injuries |
0 |
| Aircraft Weight Class |
UNDER 12501 LBS |
| Engine Make |
LYC |
| Engine Model |
IO540S1A5 |
| Engine Group |
O540 |
| Number of Engines |
2 |
| Engine Type |
O |
Environmental/Operations Info
| Primary Flight Conditions |
VISUAL FLIGHT RULES |
| Secondary Flight Conditions |
WEATHER NOT A FACTOR |
| Wind Direction(deg) |
33 |
| Wind Speed(mph) |
10 |
| Visibility(mi.) |
GREATER THAN 10 MILES |
| Flight Plan Filed |
INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES |
Pilot In Command
| Pilot Certificates |
COMMERCIAL PILOT FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR |
| Pilot Rating |
AIRPLANE MULTI-ENGINE LAND |
| Pilot Qualification |
QUALIFIED |
| Flight Time Total Hours |
3000 |
| Total in Make/Model |
130 |
| Total in Last 90 days |
60 |
| Total in last 90 days Make/Model |
40 |
Event Remarks
NARRATIVE: ON 04-04-95, A PIPER PA-60 AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A NOSE GEAR COLLAPSE UPON LANDING AT LOUISVILLE, KY (SDF). THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED BY GRAND AIRE EXPRESS INC. AND WAS ON A FAR PART 91 FLIGHT TO CLARKSVILLE, TN. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, A ROUTINE TAKEOFF WITH NORMAL GEAR RETRACTION WAS ACCOMPLISHED WHEN APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF WHILE CLIMBING THROUGH 7000 FT., HE NOTICED WHAT APPEARED TO BE OIL SPRAYING FROM THE RIGHT ENGINE. HE ELECTED TO SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE AS A PRECAUTION AND RETURNED TO SDF. DURING LANDING, ALL CHECKLIST WERE COMPLETED FOR A SINGLE ENGINE LANDING AND THREE GREEN GEAR INDICATOR LIGHTS WERE NOTED. ON TOUCHDOWN THE AIRPLANE WAS ON THE RUNWAY CENTERLINE, BACK PRESSURE WAS HELD IN AFTER THE MAIN GEAR TOUCHED DOWN, THE NOSE CAME DOWN AS NORMAL, AS THE WEIGHT SETTLED ON THE NOSE IT COLLAPSED. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RUNWAY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO THE PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT OF THE AIRCRAFT, AND THE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE BOTTOM SKIN OF THE NOSE SECTION, THE LEFT PROPELLER BLADES AND ONE BLADE ON THE RIGHT PROPELLER. AN INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT A GREASE FITTING ON THE RIGHT PROPELLER HUB HAD FAILED AND CENTRIFUGAL FORCE HAD SPRAYED GREASE THROUGH THE PROP AND ON TO THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE. THERE WERE NO MALFUNCTIONS FOUND ON THE RIGHT ENGINE. THE NOSE GEAR APPEARED TO FUNCTION NORMALLY DURING INITIAL TESTING AFTER THE INCIDENT. THE HYDRAULIC PUMP IS LOCATED ON THE RIGHT ENGINE ON THIS AIRCRAFT AND THERE IS NO AUXILIARY PUMP INSTALLED. FURTHER TESTING OF THE NOSE GEAR EXTENSION SYSTEM IS BEING ACCOMPLISHED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. A MALFUNCTION OR DEFECT REPORT HAS BEEN REQUESTED.
END REPORT