Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Maintenance Airframe; Maintenance Powerplant
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100; Flight Crew Total 17000; Flight Crew Type 250
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged
Aircraft
In perfect weather; on a normal flight to ZZZZ; normal approach to airport selected gear down on downwind to reduce airspeed to get to flap extension speed. The expected reduction in speed happened; due to the increased drag of the landing gear having extended. On the turn from downwind to base; while banking; I looked at the gear lights during the before landing checklist; and 'saw' 3 green lights. A normal stabilized followed; ending in a perfectly smooth touchdown on the mains but an INSTANT lowering on to the nose gear; which seemed to hold for a half second; only to give out and have the propeller hit the pavement at idle speed The airplane was sliding on two propeller blades; which were ground down but this prevented ANY damage to the airframe itself. The automatic gear extension system was in the 'normal' position (not over-ride) but no auto extension happened. Approach speed on final was 90 knots in accordance with the POH and very forward C.G. There was no Gear Unsafe light and no Gear Waring Horn prior to touchdown.I had a very distracting friend flying with me; constantly talking. Entering downwind; I had to tell him to stop talking as his distractions were interfering with listening to ATC. If there is more to the situation than thus far explained; his distractions would have been a major contributing factor. I am going to inspect the landing gear system this coming week and will comment on it more pending my further discoveries. If there is a lesson to be learned or safety related important information it WILL be disclosed by me to contribute to improvements in the overall safety of general aviation.
PA32 pilot reported the nose landing gear collapsed during landing.