What happened
While en route to its destination, the aircraft's ammeter dropped to a zero reading, signaling an immediate loss of charging capability. This was quickly followed by a complete electrical failure across the system. Prior to initiating the landing sequence, the pilot attempted to lower the landing gear by allowing it to freefall, adhering to recommended emergency procedures for this type of failure. However, because the electrical system had failed, the gear warning horn and the gear indicator lights became inoperative, leaving the crew without visual or auditory confirmation of the gear's status.
During the final approach and touchdown, the right main landing gear collapsed upon impact with the runway surface. The aircraft sustained significant damage as a result of the gear failure. No further details regarding injuries or specific airport locations are provided in the source record.
The investigation
A post-accident examination of the aircraft revealed the root cause of the electrical system failure. Investigators found that the alternator drive belt had failed, which stopped the generation of electricity and caused the aircraft battery to become fully discharged. To verify the mechanical integrity of the landing gear itself, technicians connected an external power source to the aircraft while it was on the ground. When checked under this external power, the landing gear and its associated indicators functioned properly, confirming that the collapse was due to the lack of electrical power during the flight rather than a mechanical defect in the gear mechanism.