20220831016959A

The aircraft’s main landing gear tires touched down on the numbers on runway 28 approximately 10 feet left of centerline. During this landing the aircraft nose gear retracted into the gear well and the propeller and nose of the aircraft made contact with the runway.

The first prop strike was observed at ~55 feet from touchdown, parallel and to the left of the first centerline marking, the prop strike marks continued for and additional ~70 feet where the engine nacelle then made contact with the runway surface. Paint and metal transfer scrape marks, created from the engine nacelle, continued forward and to the right across the center of the second runway centerline mark and then off to the right side of the runway.

The aircraft traveled approximately 440 feet before the nose settled in soft soil, just off the edge of the runway. There were no skid marks from the tires and no evidence of hard braking observed. The runway had been recently paved with new markings applied. There were no other surface defects observed on the runway.

The damage was confined to the lower nacelle of the airframe and nose bowl and air intake. The lower nacelle is part of the engine mount. The firewall (separating the cabin from the engine compartment) was not damaged but the support structure of the engine was compromised. The damage was confined to the forward engine supports, which is constructed of aluminum frames, longerons and stressed skin panels.

These parts, located below the forward engine mounts were found to be collapsed, abraded, twisted and cracked. The air intake box below the spinner was collapsed and filled with dirt. All propeller blades were twisted backwards and with tightly curved tips in the direction of rotation, indicating engine power was applied during landing and coincided with the prop strike marks on the runway surface. The scrape and paint transfer markings observed on the runway surface coincided with the abrasion damaged noted on the aircraft lower structure.

The aircraft was lifted and moved off the runway with FAA permission. No injuries were reported. Removal of the aircraft was accomplished with a roll back tow vehicle which lifted the aircraft by the nose. At this point the nose landing gear was extended and locked manually. The aircraft was then towed to the grass parking area.

There were no visible indications upon either the runway surface or on the aircraft of a wheelbarrow landing, hard landing, or porpoising event. An inspection of the nose landing gear assembly and landing gear retraction system did not indicate a mechanical or overload failure, as complete continuity of the system was noted. Observation of the nose landing gear assembly, airframe attachment points, wheel and tire assembly, retraction mechanism, linkages and hardware or hydraulics components did not reveal any damage. There were no leaks noted in the hydraulic actuator or hoses and the hydraulic reservoir was noted to be full. It was not possible to test the hydraulic pump, however the pilot stated that the pressure gauge indicated positive pressure during operation. The nose gear indication system wiring and down and lock switch was found connected and undamaged. There were three green lights observed with power applied. Maintenance records indicated that the last annual inspection was conducted on 8.1.2021 and a functional check of the landing gear retraction with normal results was observed after repairs were made to the right-hand main gear door.