Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On February 4, 2009, about 1230 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-46-500TP airplane, N535JR, departed the runway during landing at the Aspen-Pitkin County Airport (ASE), Aspen, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the incident. The airplane received minor damage, and neither the private pilot or passenger were injured. The cross- country flight was being operated as a personal flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed. The flight originated at Richard Lloyd Jones Airport (RVS), Tulsa, Oklahoma, and was terminating at the time of the incident.

The pilot stated that he made a smooth landing on the main wheels and as soon as the nose wheel touched down the airplane began veering left and right uncontrollably. The airplane exited the right side of Runway 15 about 2,000 feet down the runway and came to rest in a snow bank.

The pilot also reported this airplane had seven previous events of the airplane pulling to the left during landing. In each of those cases, the steering departure occurred upon nose wheel touchdown and the pilot was able to regain control. There were no reports to the NTSB or FAA for any of the prior events.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The pilot, age 50, held a private pilot certificate with airplane single engine land and instrument ratings. His last flight review occurred on November 3, 2008. His last third class medical evaluation occurred on June 1, 2007. According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1), he had 1,600 total flight hours and 500 flight hours in this make and model of airplane at the time of the accident.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The six-seat, low wing, retractable gear airplane, serial number (S/N) 4697253, was manufactured in 2006. It was powered by a Pratt and Whitney Canada PT6A-42A 500 horsepower engine and equipped with a Hartzell HC-E4N-3Q propeller. A review of the maintenance logbook records showed an annual inspection was completed September 9, 2008, at a recorded 527.8 hours airframe total time and tachometer time. The airplane had accumulated 680 hours total time and tachometer time at the time of the incident.

This model airplane is equipped with a retractable tricycle air-oil strut type landing gear which is hydraulically operated by an electric hydraulic pump. A selector handle or switch on the instrument panel to the left of the control quadrant is used to select gear UP or DOWN positions.

The nose gear is steerable through a 60 degree arc by use of the rudder pedals. As the gear retract, the steering linkage becomes separated from the gear so that rudder pedal action with the gear retracted is not impeded by the nose gear operation. The nose gear rotates 90° to stow in the horizontal position. A steering bungee is also incorporated in the nose wheel steering mechanism.

METEORLOGICAL INFORMATION

Weather at ASE a