SEA03LA085

During the landing roll, the nose gear began to oscillate when it made contact with the runway surface. The pilot applied up elevator to unload the nose gear. When the nose gear touched down again, the aircraft veered to the right side. The pilot tried to compensate with left rudder input, however, the aircraft traveled off the side of the runway surface onto soft terrain. The nose gear collapsed and the aircraft came to rest off the side of the runway. Inspection of the nose gear found that the steering arm on top of the nose gear strut was missing. The part has not been located.

On May 19, 2003, at 2015 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-31-350, N71749, registered to and operated by Aeroflight Executive Services Inc., as a 14 CFR Part 135 on demand cargo flight, collapsed the nose gear during the landing roll at Pangborn Memorial Airport, Wenatchee, Washington. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated from Spokane, Washington, about one hour prior to the accident.

The pilot reported that the taxi and takeoff from Spokane were normal. The landing at Wenatchee was made on runway 30. The pilot stated that the aircraft touched down and when the nose wheel contacted the surface, the nose jolted to the right. The pilot unloaded the nose gear by applying up elevator. When the nose wheel touched down again, the aircraft veered to the right. The pilot tried to counter with full left rudder input, however the aircraft continued to travel off the hard top surface of the runway onto soft terrain. The nose gear collapsed and the aircraft came to rest off the side of the runway.

A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector from the Spokane Flight Standards District Office inspected the aircraft and reported that the steering arm on top of the nose gear strut was missing. The arm assembly, part number 44386-00 has not been located. The three bolts that secure the steering arm to the strut are also missing. Additional damage noted that the nose landing gear extension/retraction arms were broken and deformed. The shimmy dampener attachment tabs are broken off at the attachment collar. It was noted that the nose gear strut housing had been weld repaired at the right side steering stop. The steering stop was deformed outward which allowed the nose wheel to turn approximately 80 degrees to the right. The left side steering stop appeared intact.

The runway was inspected and it was noted that skid marks present on the runway appeared to be associated with the accident. The skid marks indicate that the nose wheel was oscillating for about 1,000 feet prior to the aircraft departing the side of the runway. The aircraft came to rest about 35 feet away from the runway edge.