N87619

On May 30, 2007 at 1710 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-32-300, N87619, registered to and operated by Ram Air Freight LLC as a 14 Code of Federal Regulation Part 135 cargo flight, had a nose gear collapse on landing roll at Columbia Metropolitan Airport, Columbia, South Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The commercial rated pilot was not injured. The flight departed Myrtle Beach International Airport, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina on May 30, 2007, at 1655.

The pilot stated that on landing flare, he heard a "loud bang" when the nose wheel touched down. The nose of the airplane "bounced" back into the air and the tail of the airplane struck the runway. The nose then settled back to the ground and the airplane came to a stop. The pilot exited the airplane and noticed that the nose wheel assembly was broken off the strut. Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed that the nose wheel fork was broken off the strut, and was in two parts. Further examination of the airplane revealed that the empennage was buckled.

The nose landing gear wheel fork was sent to the National Transportation Safety Board's Materials Laboratory for examination. The fracture features were on slant planes with a matte gray appearance, consistent with an overstress fracture. No evidence of a preexisting damage was observed. The overall deformation of both legs of the fork was consistent with side loading.