The pilot reported that during landing at the airport in Cassville, Missouri, the Piper PA-46-310P oscillated left and right as he attempted to maintain directional control on the ground.
The airplane departed the left side of the runway and crashed in a ravine, sustaining substantial damage to the right wing spar.
The pilot told investigators that before the flight he had reinstalled the nose landing gear steering arm, but did not properly secure the steering linkage to the steering arm.
Because he did not properly secure the steering linkage, the nose landing gear was not aligned with the runway during the landing.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to reinstall the nose landing gear linkage prior to the flight which resulted in a loss of directional control during landing.
To download the final report. Click here. This will trigger a PDF download to your device.
This December 2021 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
From the non-A&P, owner/operator, private pilot: “Prior to this flight, I had removed, inspected, and reinstalled the nose gear steering arm and failed to properly secure the steering linkage to the steering arm.”
I’d say definitely NOT an activity authorized on a PA-46-310P under “Appendix A to Part 43—Major Alterations, Major Repairs, and Preventive Maintenance”.
Yup.!! I made similar comments a few days ago.
My next question is what will the insurance co. do.? Not pay on any claim ?
In my experience:
No..insurance will not cover an airplane that is being operated when it is not in an “airworthy” condition. Technically, this Malibu was not airworthy due to the improperly performed repairs.
…or improperly performed/documented “inspection”.
Jim you must be an A&P. I have hade plenty of mistakes from you guys after a 30,000 bill. Like not tightening the fuel injectors after cleaning and suffer a flame out on the right engine on the takeoff roll. Not putting tailcone fairing in place. The list goes on and on.
What is the Quick disconnect? Where can I get it?
Malibu Flyer in YouTube. He has a channel
Line crew movement via power tug threatens
nose gear damage of all aircraft. We leave a sign on the windscreen saying move with hand towbar only or risk damaging NLG. Critical to inspect NLG after power tug movement prior to departing.
This year we had an instance where line crew exceeded turn radius and cracked the NLG stop. Crack wasn’t noticed until a week later. An expensive mistake. Single engine Cessna retractables should not be moved with power tugs due to ease of breaking NLG downlock roll pins. See SEB 95-20 which adds a 2nd roll pin to address this issue.
This Piper, like some other models, has a very limited nose steering range. Oversteer with a tug and towbar will damage steering components.
Some operators will use a quick disconnect pin in the center torque link joint, allowing ground handling without fear of damage. I can’t say this is the case here, but it’s been done.
Not that it’s a good idea…
So, this pilot did some repairs to the nose gear….a good reason to have an A&P check the work and sign it off as airworthy.!
Per the FAA Airman registry, this pilot does not have an A&P certificate….
How will the insurance co. treat this crash ? ‘walk away’ ?
no repairs, its a quick disconnect link which facilitates towing the airplane into tight places, needs to be reconnected prior to operating the airplane
From the 6129 form, The pilot said that he removed the steering arm…and failed to secure the steering linkage to the steering arm.
No mention of a ‘quick disconnect’.
Pilot types are usually quick to point at the A&P, or the line guy for their goof up. Not so in this case. Appears to me that he is acknowledging sole responsibility. Sorry you wadded up your airplane, but maybe this might prevent a similar accident.
The linkage he failed to replace is a pip pin/ quick disconnect