Collapsed nose landing gear, Mooney M20K, Ameland Airport
The aeroplane had departed from Midden Zeeland Airport for a recreational VFR flight to Ameland Airport. On board were the pilot in command (the owner of the aeroplane) and another pilot. The pilot in command, who was flying the aeroplane, had asked the other pilot to accompany him as a safety pilot, because he himself had not flown for 4.5 months. At Ameland, the wind came from the north at a speed of 4 knots. Ameland Airport has one unpaved runway (grass) in the direction 09-27. The pilot first made a touch-and-go on Runway 09, during which the nose landing gear did not touch the ground. After the airport operations manager had advised that Runway 27 could be used as well, the pilot joined a right-hand downwind for Runway 27. He extended the landing gear and verified that the green down-and-locked light was on and that the visual landing gear position indicator showed the landing gear to be in the extended position. After flying an uneventful circuit the aeroplane was on short final at 80 knots. The pilot had selected partial (takeoff) flaps for landing and landed the aeroplane on the main wheels. At this moment, before bearing any weight, the nose wheel hit some bumps on the grass. The pilot maintained back pressure on the steering wheel, but subsequently the nose landing gear touched and then collapsed and the propeller struck the ground.
The gear warning horn had not sounded. The aeroplane slid along the runway centreline on its lower fuselage before coming to rest on its nose. The two occupants were unharmed. The propeller blades broke off.
The full analysis of this serious incident can be found in the Quarterly Aviation Report over the 2nd quarter of 2020.
