This happened to our DA20-A1 years ago and before we bought her. The pilot was unaware that the nose wheel had departed the airplane. It became apparent on the next landing when the prop contacted the ground.
The composite Hoffman prop merely ground itself away on landing. Repairs included new propeller blades (I think the hub was fine), an engine gearbox inspection (overload clutch saved the engine) and of course, a new nose gear strut. Even back then, getting parts from Diamond took months - since they didn't like supporting the A1 Katanas. Some things never change...
Shop chopped up my nose gear!
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- krellis
- 4 Diamonds Member
- Posts: 340
- Joined: Fri Apr 29, 2011 10:42 am
- First Name: Keith
- Aircraft Type: OTHER
- Aircraft Registration: N853DF
- Airports: GA04
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Re: Shop chopped up my nose gear!
Maybe the shop saved you a very expensive landing like the just happened in the C1. If the other pilot had not been there to observe the nose wheel departing - the outcome could have been quite different for the solo pilot.
I know you were unhappy with your maintenance shop, but in retrospect- they may have saved you a lot of money.
I know you were unhappy with your maintenance shop, but in retrospect- they may have saved you a lot of money.