WPR14LA051

The pilot reported that he set up for a straight-in approach to the runway, that the approach was normal, and that he completed the prelanding checklist. He was targeting 90 knots indicated airspeed (KIAS) for touchdown, but the airplane was "slightly fast" as it was approaching the runway, so he pulled the power back to idle and initiated the landing flare. The airplane was unresponsive when he pulled up the nose. Although the airplane settled down on the main landing gear first, the nosewheel then contacted the surface and abruptly sheared off, the nose landing gear assembly separated from the airplane, and the airplane then nosed down and slid about 1,000 feet down the runway before coming to rest. Postaccident examination of the nose landing gear strut assembly found that the housing was ruptured and that the strut had separated. Further examination of the assembly found no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that there were known problems controlling the airplane's nose attitude when the airplane was in the landing configuration between 90 KIAS and the recommended landing speed of about 80 KIAS. He stated that, although both these speeds are above the stall speed, they are too slow for the airplane to respond to pilot elevator control inputs. It is likely that the pilot did not maintain the appropriate pitch attitude for landing and that the nose landing gear contacted the surface hard, which broke the gear strut.

On October 12, 2013, at 1500 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-31P, N14TG, experienced a nose gear separation during the landing roll at the Calexico International Airport, Calexico, California. The commercial pilot and two passengers were not injured. The forward fuselage was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by Flying Bull Aviation under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from El Cajon, California, at 1425. The pilot reported that he set-up for a straight in approach to runway 8. The approach was normal and the prelanding checklist was completed. The pilot stated that he was targeting 90 KIAS for touchdown, but the airspeed was slightly fast approaching the runway so he pulled the power back to idle and flared. The airplane was unresponsive when he pulled up the nose as the airplane settled on the main landing gear. The nosewheel abruptly sheared off upon surface contact and the airplane nosed down and slid about 1,000 feet down the runway before coming to rest. The pilot further reported that there are known problems controlling the nose attitude in the landing configuration between 90 KIAS and the recommended landing speed around 80 KIAS. Both these speeds are above the stalling speed, but too slow to respond to pilot action regarding elevator control. Post accident examination of the nose gear strut found that the housing was ruptured and the strut was broken. Further examination revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation.