What happened
Upon landing, the aircraft experienced a collapse of both main landing gear assemblies. The nose gear was confirmed to be in the down and locked position at the moment of touchdown. The pilot was uncertain whether the cockpit indicators had provided a reliable confirmation that the gear was fully secured prior to contact with the runway.
The investigation
Following the accident, maintenance personnel conducted a functional test of the landing gear system. During this post-accident inspection, the gear retraction and extension cycle operated without mechanical obstruction or failure. Additionally, the landing gear position indicators and the associated warning system were tested and found to be operating within normal parameters.
Findings
The primary finding was the structural failure of the main landing gear upon impact with the ground. The investigation revealed that while the nose gear functioned correctly, the main gear failed to support the aircraft's weight during the landing roll. Post-accident mechanical evaluations indicated that the hydraulic or mechanical locking mechanisms were functional after the event, suggesting the failure occurred during the initial loading phase of the touchdown.
Safety message
Pilots should ensure positive confirmation of landing gear position and lock indication before initiating the final approach. Reliance on auditory warnings alone may be insufficient if visual indicators are ambiguous or if the pilot is uncertain about the status of the gear system.