What happened
During a previous flight, the pilot cycled the landing gear two or three times using the normal extension system but did not receive a safe indication. The gear was subsequently hand-cranked down, at which point a safe light illuminated. Following this flight, a local facility performed a gear retraction test. The pilot received a phone call from this facility and was informed that the gear had been cycled three times and was cleared for flight.
On the next flight, as the aircraft began to taxi, the left landing gear collapsed after the plane traveled approximately eight to ten feet.
The investigation
An examination of the aircraft revealed that the push-pull rod, part number 081-000-58, on the downlock assembly had been bent. This damage could result in a reduction of the travel of the landing gear, not allowing the gear to travel to the full down and lock position.
Findings
The primary factor was the bent push-pull rod which prevented proper locking. The pilot's reliance on the mechanic's verbal assurance without verifying the mechanical status contributed to the incident.