IAI1125 (Astra)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 30; Flight Crew Total 9400; Flight Crew Type 120
Situational Awareness
Ground Event / Encounter Object
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged
Human Factors; Weather; Airport
We departed for our destination of Centralia; ON (CYCE). Centralia has no WX reporting and uses the TAF from London. The CTAF at Centralia is not monitored; and a check of NOTAMS prior to departing for Centralia had 'no' indications of runway closures. The flight was performed VFR in VMC conditions. Winds departing were 3110G20. During approach at Centralia the wind display on our MFD's indicated it to be aligned with 34 at 18 kts.On final approach areas of what were believed to be only patchy thin snow and ice were observed to be covering approximately 10% of Rwy 34; primarily at the threshold and departure end. Some was observed also in the area where RWY 10/28 crosses RWY 17/34.Following a normal landing I as pilot not flying looked down to verify AIR BRAKES Deployed. Annunciator was on. When I raised my head saw what believed was patchy thin ice and snow at the point Rwy 10/28 crossed were actually berms left from plowing Rwy 10/28. I would estimate them to have been 1 to 3 feet in height.The Pilot Flying applied maximum braking and full aft yoke. Upon impacting the second berm the Nose Landing Gear failed and the bottom half separated from the aircraft. The Pilot Flying maintained directional control and was able to gently lower the nose to the runway. During our approach to Centralia we elected to enter on a left base rather than on the downwind; which may have given us a better perspective to view the runway. We were lulled into assuming what little snow and ice we observed on Rwy 34 was all only patchy thin as there was no NOTAM or physical indication that the runway was closed. Also; as Pilot not flying on the short flight I was busy and did not take the extra few moments I should have to observe the runway more closely. I suspect that during the last snowfall only Rwy 10/28 was plowed and the berm we impacted was left over from that. I believe the Pilot Flying did an excellent job of dealing with this mishap; as we had only a few seconds from touchdown to impact. I would like to explore; perhaps during our next Sim Recurrent what would have occurred if prior to impacting the berm the brakes had been released and while still holding full aft yoke the T/R's had been deployed. They are mounted high on the Astra and I believe these actions might have lightened the load significantly on the Nose Landing Gear during the impact with the berm.
IA1125 Captain reported nose gear damage resulted from impact with a snow berm on landing roll at CYCE.