Aviation Safety

At 1120 eastern time, a Piper PA-32RT-300T was damaged when its nose wheel collapsed during landing at Fayetteville, N.C. The pilot was not injured. The pilot reported that the elevator flight control became unresponsive in flight. Using only elevator trim to control pitch, the pilot flew to Fayetteville Regional Airport, where he requested the longest runway for an emergency landing. The nose of the airplane dropped when the pilot reduced power to land, causing the nose wheel to collapse on impact with the runway. A post-flight inspection revealed that the left elevator cable assembly turnbuckle was broken….

At 1626 Pacific time, a Cessna 310 sustained substantial damage after colliding with a fence following a landing overrun at Whiteman Airport in Pacoima, Los Angeles County. The pilot was not injured. The flight was approaching to land when the tower personnel advised the pilot that he was lined up to land on the grass adjoining the runway. The pilot executed a go-around. On his second attempt he landed long and too fast. The FAA inspector noted skid marks on the runway and bald spots on the tires of the accident airplane….

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