Service difficulty report · Fitting · Piper PA23250

Difficulty date
June 11, 2015
Submitted
June 18, 2015
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N14284
Make and model
Piper PA23250
Aircraft serial
274847
Aircraft time
6,443 hours
Engine
Lyc TIO540*
Part
Fitting
Part number
400235
Condition
Fractured
Location
Nlg Drag Link
Stage of operation
LD
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
O
Precautionary procedure
O

As reported to the FAA. Reports are unverified, and codes are left as the FAA publishes them.

What was found

UPON LANDING ROLLOUT, STUDENT PILOT REPORTED DIFFICULTY WITH NOSE WHEEL STEERING. AFTER TURNING OFF RUNWAY USING DIFFERENTIAL BRAKING, THE INSTRUCTOR PRESSED ON RUDDER PEDALS TO TEST STEERING. AT THIS TIME THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED FOLDING FORWARD AND PROPELLERS OF BOTH ENGINES STRUCK THE GROUND AS THE ACFT CAME TO A HALT. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT REVEALED THE BOLT SECURING THE UPPER DRAG BRACE TO THE FRAME OF THE ACFT HAD FRACTURED AND THE RT NOSE WHEEL DRAG LINK ATTACHMENT FITTING WAS BROKEN. FURTHER EXAMINATION OF THE BOLT SHOWED EVIDENCE OF FATIGUE.

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