On September 10, 1982, a Cessna 310R (registration N3980A) operated by Thomas R. Mcelhenney was involved in an aviation accident near Tomball, TX. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The breakage of the bolt connecting the retraction drag link to the landing gear strut, which led to the collapse of the right main landing gear during the landing roll. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
Aircraft registered N3980A. Photo: U.S. Customs and Border Protection / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The right main landing gear collapsed during the landing roll, causing the aircraft to leave the runway and cross a drainage ditch, resulting in substantial fuselage damage.
What happened
During the landing roll, the right main landing gear suddenly collapsed. As a result of this structural failure, the aircraft departed the paved surface and crossed into a nearby drainage ditch. The impact sustained substantial damage to the fuselage.
The investigation
A post-accident inspection of the airframe focused on the compromised landing gear assembly. Investigators discovered that the bolt connecting the retraction drag link, part number 0841226-4, to the landing gear strut was broken. This mechanical failure is identified as the primary cause of the gear collapse.
Probable cause
The breakage of the bolt connecting the retraction drag link to the landing gear strut, which led to the collapse of the right main landing gear during the landing roll.
