Probable cause
The overstress failure of the nose landing gear fork assembly.
NTSB analysis
The commercial pilot stated that, immediately after landing the experimental, amateur-built airplane, the nose landing gear (NLG) collapsed. Examination of the NLG revealed that the nosewheel and its mounting fork had separated. Further examination of the NLG fork revealed that it had fractured from overstress. The NLG fork was the original one installed in the airplane. Since that time, the manufacturer had determined that the original design was prone to shimmying, which could result in overstress fractures, and had twice modified the design to eliminate the failure. The new part design had not been installed on the airplane; therefore, the original NLG fork design, which was prone to fracture due to overstress, eventually fractured during the accident landing.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA16LA177 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Apr 30, 2016
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Worcester, Massachusetts
- Nearest airport
- Worcester Rgnl (ORH)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Amateur-built VELOCITY
- N-number
- N7044Q
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1989
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.