N35CM

On February 1, 2022, at 1230 eastern standard time, a Piper PA46-350P, N35CM, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident in Crystal River, Florida. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

The pilot reported that during landing on the turf runway 18 at the Crystal River Airport (CGC), Crystal River, Florida, the airplane touched down near the beginning of the runway at a speed of about 70 knots. He applied normal braking, and the airplane drifted slightly right of centerline. He then applied “less right brake and more left rudder” and the airplane corrected back toward the runway centerline. After the speed reduced to “below 20 knots” the nosewheel suddenly collapsed. Tire marks on the runway near the end of the rollout veered toward the left.

Examination of the accident site and airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration revealed that the airplane continued about 20 ft after the nose gear collapsed. The lower engine mount, to which the nose gear trunnion was attached, was substantially damaged. Remnants of grass were found along the circumference of the nose gear wheel, between the wheel rim and the tire.

Airport personnel found a fractured bolt and fractured landing gear trunnion fitting on the runway. Examination of the fractures revealed that they were consistent with overload. The bolt exhibited features consistent with tension and bending.