What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
privacy data omitted Was going to make a first flight since his November 2013 nose gear collapse. The aircraft got about 3 ft in the air when the nose came down and struck the runway. The nose gear fork folded back and hit the prop and cowling. We discussed the possibility that the nose fork is not strong enough and he should consider getting a fork from another similar aircraft and rework it to fit his aircraft. We also discussed the possibility that this aircraft is too nose heavy. I suggested he contact pal banner to do a new weight and balance with calibrated equipment to see if there is an out balance issue. I told privacy data omitted this should be done before the aircraft is flown again and I would like to see the documentation before he fly another flight.
As the FAA filed it
^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS GOING TO MAKE A FIRST FLIGHT SINCE HIS NOVEMBER 2013 NOSE GEAR COLLAPSE. THE AIRCRAFT GOT ABOUT 3 FT IN THE AIR WHEN THE NOSE CAME DOWN AND STRUCK THE RUNWAY. THE NOSE GEAR FORK FOLDED BACK AND HIT THE PROP AND COWLING. WE DISCUSSED THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE NOSE FORK IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH AND HE SHOULD CONSIDER GETTING A FORK FROM ANOTHER SIMILAR AIRCRAFT AND REWORK IT TO FIT HIS AIRCRAFT. WE ALSO DISCUSSED THE POSSIBILITY THAT THIS AIRCRAFT IS TOO NOSE HEAVY. I SUGGESTED HE CONTACT PAL BANNER TO DO A NEW WEIGHT AND BALANCE WITH CALIBRATED EQUIPMENT TO SEE IF THERE IS AN OUT BALANCE ISSUE. I TOLD ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ THIS SHOULD BE DONE BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT IS FLOWN AGAIN AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE DOCUMENTATION BEFORE HE FLY ANOTHER FLIGHT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N853WD · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.