Primary finding
Probable cause
failure of the nose gear strut, during landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings. On the last landing, the (lower) nose gear strut failed. The airplane then skidded on the upper strut until it contacted a crack in the runway, then the upper strut failed.
Source record
Factual narrative
On November 25, 1995, at 1710 hours mountain standard time, the nose gear of a homebuilt Schafer Lancair 360, N56DS, collapsed during the landing roll on runway 30L at Williams-Gateway Airport, Phoenix, Arizona. The pilot was completing a local visual flight rules personal flight. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot's wife, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Williams-Gateway Airport at 1610 hours. The pilot reported that he was practicing touch-and-go landings and takeoffs. On the last landing, the airplane touched down on the main wheels and the nose lowered onto the runway. About 2 or 3 seconds later, the pilot heard a thump under the tail of the airplane. Thereafter, the nose gear lowered and the propeller struck the runway. The pilot was able to raise the airplane's nose momentarily, and as the air speed depleted, the nose lowered again and the airplane skidded down the runway on the upper section of the nose gear strut. Later, the upper section of the strut lodged in a crack in the runway and broke off. The airplane subsequently came to a stop after it momentarily became airborne. The pilot also said in the report that the front "fork to [the] strut attachment [bolts]" failed. The Safety Board's investigator-in-charge asked the pilot to submit the bolts for metallurgical examination, but he elected not to. -