On September 4, 1982, a Cessna 310A (registration N301DG) operated by William H. Anderson was involved in an aviation accident near Wheeling, IL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: A bent right-hand inboard drive tube in the landing gear system, which resulted in the collapse of the right main gear during the landing roll. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During the landing roll, the right main gear collapsed after the pilot was unable to confirm gear extension via the green light. Investigation revealed a bent drive tube.
What happened
The pilot reported an inability to verify proper gear extension because the green indication light failed to illuminate. Several checks were performed during the approach, including a fly-by where an advisory confirmed the gear appeared to be down. Despite this visual confirmation, the right main landing gear collapsed during the landing roll.
The investigation
A mechanical examination of the landing gear system was conducted following the incident. The inspection revealed a bent right-hand inboard drive tube as the primary discrepancy. No other issues were found within the system.
Findings
The collapse of the right main landing gear was directly linked to the mechanical failure of the drive mechanism. The bent right-hand inboard drive tube prevented proper gear locking or extension, despite visual appearances suggesting otherwise. This mechanical fault led to the structural failure upon touchdown.
Probable cause
A bent right-hand inboard drive tube in the landing gear system, which resulted in the collapse of the right main gear during the landing roll.