FTW98LA370

As the pilot took off from Mesquite, Nevada, he heard 'a loud popping sound' and the airplane 'shook a brief moment.' He thought he had struck an animal or other object. He flew over the runway but saw nothing. He landed at Hurricane, Utah, at 80 knots (92 mph), and used 'slight cross control to compensate for the crosswind,' applied 'light' brake pressure, and raised the flaps. The airplane started to veer to the right. The pilot said he corrected with opposite rudder, but it had no effect. When he applied full left rudder and brakes, the airplane 'began to hop and acted as if it was going over on the left wing.' The airplane departed the right side of the runway and collided with a ditch. Photographs taken at the accident site showed the nose wheel bent and collapsed to the right. There was a dark scuffing mark angling off the runway at a 15 degree angle. According to the photographer, there were also dark scuffing 'chatter' marks down the runway. A airport mechanic and an FAA inspector examined the nose landing gear, steering linkage, and brakes, and reported finding no evidence of a mechanical failure.

On August 22, 1998, approximately 1530 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180, N4760L, registered to and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during landing at Hurricane, Utah. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Mesquite, Nevada, approximately 1415.

According to the pilot's accident report, he and his wife were returning to Hurricane after having lunch in Mesquite. As he was taking off from Mesquite, he heard "a loud popping sound" and the airplane "shook a brief moment." He thought he had struck an animal or other object. He flew over the runway but saw nothing. When he arrived at Hurricane, he landed on the first quarter of runway 18 (3,410 ft. x 40 ft., asphalt) at 80 knots (92 mph). He said the wind was from 260 degrees between 10 and 15 knots, and he used "slight cross control to compensate for the crosswind." He applied "light" brake pressure and raised the flaps. When the nose wheel touched the runway, the airplane started to veer to the right. The pilot said he corrected with opposite rudder, but it had no effect. When he applied full left rudder and brakes, the airplane "began to hop and acted as if it was going over on the left wing." The airplane departed the right side of the runway and collided with a ditch. The nose landing gear collapsed and the left wing was damaged internally.

Photographs taken at the accident site show the nose wheel bent and collapsed to the right. There was a dark scuffing mark angling off the runway at a 15 degree angle. According to the photographer, there were also dark scuffing "chatter" marks down the runway. A airport mechanic and an FAA inspector examined the nose landing gear, steering linkage, and brakes, and reported finding no evidence of a mechanical failure.

The following are excerpts from the Piper PA-28-180 Owner's Handbook: "The airplane should be trimmed to an approach speed of about 85 miles per hour, and flaps extended...It is generally good practice to contact the ground at the minimum possible safe speed consistent with existing conditions...Reduce the speed during the flareout and contact the ground close to the stalling speed (50 to 60 mph). After ground contact, hold the nose wheel off as long as possible. As the airplane slows down,. Drop the nose and apply the brakes. There will be less chance of skidding the tires if the flaps are retracted before applying the brakes."