Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

On August 16, 1996, at 1125 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 150H, N6935S, sheared off the nose landing gear during a touch-and-go landing at Fort Collins/Loveland Municipal Airport (FNL), Fort Collins , Colorado. The student pilot was not injured and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this student solo training flight operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed Fort Collins Downtown Airpark (3V5), approximately 30 minutes prior to the accident.

Witness marks, debris on the runway, and the pilot's statement revealed the student was performing a touch-and-go landing at FNL and a landing occurred which sheared off the nose landing gear and damaged the propeller. The flight became airborne following this event and the student pilot, unaware of the damage, flew to the local practice area, spent some period of time practicing maneuvers, then flew the aircraft back to the departure airport, 3V5. During landing at 3V5, further damage was sustained to the remaining portion of the nose landing gear assembly, propeller, and right outer wing leading edge.

Examination of the failed nose landing gear axle bolt by a Safety Board metallurgist revealed that the axle bolt failed in overload. improper flare by the pilot, which resulted in a hard landing, and subsequent overload failure of the nosewheel axle and nose gear.