Casualties unknown

1982-05-14: Cessna 310 (N1831H) — Lonnie O. Browning — Allendale, SC

Allendale, SC, US

On May 14, 1982, a Cessna 310 (registration N1831H) operated by Lonnie O. Browning was involved in an aviation accident near Allendale, SC. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

During landing roll-out, the left main gear collapsed despite indicators showing gear down and locked. Investigation found the side brace link was improperly adjusted, requiring less than 5 lbs force instead of the specified 50 lbs.

Incident Overview

The pilot reported that before landing, all landing gear indicators showed the gear were down and locked. However, during the landing roll-out, as the nosewheel was lowered to the runway, the left main gear collapsed. This resulted in damage to the left wing, left propeller, and left elevator.

Post-Incident Examination

Following the incident, the landing gear extension and retraction mechanism was tested and found to operate normally. However, examination of the left landing gear side brace link revealed it was improperly adjusted. According to the aircraft maintenance manual, the side brace link should require 50 pounds of force to move it out of the locked position. In this case, the link could be moved with light finger pressure, estimated to be less than 5 pounds.

Conclusion

The malfunction of the left main gear was attributed to the improper adjustment of the side brace link, which failed to maintain the gear in the locked position during landing.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20020917X02729. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.