Piper PA-34-200T N2872S accident near Inverness, Florida

Probable cause

The pilot's improper flare which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent collapse of the nose landing gear.

NTSB analysis

The purpose of the flight was to conduct practice takeoffs and landings in the local airport traffic pattern utilizing a short field landing technique. During the landing roll, the pilot applied the brakes and retracted the flaps, then heard a "bang" as the nose landing gear collapsed and folded back into the wheel well. The nose of the airplane subsequently settled onto the runway and both propellers struck the runway surface. Postaccident examination of the nose landing gear revealed that the rivets attaching the nose landing gear actuator bracket to its mounting bulkhead had sheared vertically due to the landing. Additionally, the upper nose landing gear drag link attachment bolt was bent, consistent with a hard landing.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA10TA481 for the full record.