On August 11, 1983, a Cessna 310Q (registration N69604) was involved in an aviation accident near Spokane, WA. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a crosswind landing, the right main landing gear collapsed after the pilot touched down on the left main gear first. Investigation revealed the drag link upper bolt had failed due to rust and seizure.
Accident Narrative
The pilot intentionally touched down on the left main gear first while landing with a slight left crosswind. Shortly after the other main wheel contacted the runway, the right main landing gear collapsed. Initially suspecting a blown right tire, the pilot applied corrective action to no avail. Rudder and brake effectiveness diminished, and the aircraft came to rest on the right side of the runway.
Examination Findings
Post-accident examination of the right main landing gear revealed that the upper bolt (part number NAS464P4-26) securing the drag link assembly had failed. The bolt and its associated bushing were found to be rusty and had seized within the drag link assembly. Additionally, several other bolts and bushings throughout the landing gear assembly exhibited similar rust and seizure. The most recent annual inspection had been completed on July 26, 1983, and the aircraft had accumulated 20.3 flight hours since that inspection.