A Gulfstream IV runway excursion at Spirit of St. Louis Airport in Missouri was linked to a forgotten nose landing gear safety pin after the aircraft landed on 14 August, according to a newly released NTSB preliminary report. The business jet had departed Eagle County Regional Airport in Colorado, and none of the three crew members or seven passengers were injured.
The report indicates that ground crew at Eagle County were unable to install the pip pin during preflight, so the pilot fitted it himself but did not secure the secondary safety pin. On landing, the nose wheel began to shimmy and the nose landing gear separated from the aircraft, followed by collapse of the left main landing gear and a veer into grass beside the runway.
Investigators found the pip pin separated, with three of four ball locks still in place, while the safety pin remained intact in the open position. Runway and grass inspections turned up debris, but the missing ball lock and upper scissor link were not recovered. The NTSB retained the wreckage for further examination and the cockpit voice and flight data recorders were removed for download.