N465BP

Substantial
None

PIPER AIRCRAFT INC PA46RS/N: 4692032

Accident Details

Date
Thursday, July 14, 2016
NTSB Number
GAA16CA378
Location
Denver, CO
Event ID
20160718X35521
Coordinates
39.784168, -104.537498
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
2
Total Aboard
2

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's improper nose down pitch attitude during touchdown resulting in a propeller strike, hard bounced landing, and nose landing gear collapse.

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
PIPER AIRCRAFT INC
Serial Number
4692032
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
2008
Model / ICAO
PA46RPA46
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1
Seats
6
FAA Model
PA46R-350T

Registered Owner (Current)

Name
CLEAR BLUE AVIATION LLC
Address
7302 DEERHILL DR
City
CLARKSTON
State / Zip Code
MI 48346-1234
Country
United States

Analysis

The pilot reported that following an instrument flight rules (IFR) cross country flight, he canceled his IFR clearance, and made a visual approach to runway 26. He recalled that Tower told him that his airplane would be the last to land on runway 26, and he recalled that the inbound airplane behind him was vectored for an approach to runway 08. He reported that after landing, the nose gear collapsed and the airplane slid to the right side of the runway, and partially exited the runway before coming to rest. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mounts, firewall and fuselage bulkheads.

The Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Safety Inspector that examined the airplane and the accident scene, reported that during the landing the propeller struck the runway, the airplane bounced and settled back to the runway about 100 feet further down the runway where a second set of propeller blade strike markings were identified. The Inspector reported that the propeller blade strike markings were accompanied by black rubber skid marks that extended from the runway centerline and veered to the right edge of the runway. The Inspector reported that, the nose gear collapsed backwards as evidenced by white paint marks and metallic material scarring the asphalt. The airplane continued to veer to the right where it eventually departed the paved runway coming to a rest in the dirt. The Inspector confirmed that the distance from the initial propeller strike to the wreckage was about 735 feet.

The meteorological aerodrome report at the accident airport reported that the wind direction and distance about the time of the accident was 010 degrees true at 4 knots.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# GAA16CA378