Nose gear collapse — Piper Seminole, training flight

Summary

The nose landing gear of a Perth City Aero Club Piper PA-44 Seminole retracted on landing rollout at Jandakot Airport. The propellers struck the runway surface; both engines sustained damage. The instructor and student were uninjured. The aircraft sustained significant damage to both propellers, both engines, and the forward fuselage.

Investigation Findings (4)

1. 01Inspection identified a failure of the nose gear up-lock latch pin which had sheared due to fatigue.
2. 02The pin was within its TBO and had shown no indication of impending failure under the routine inspection.
3. 03Piper issued a service bulletin mandating replacement of the nose gear uplock pin at reduced intervals on high-cycle Seminoles.
4. 04CASA mandated compliance with the Piper SB by Airworthiness Directive.