Incident Details
Several days prior to the incident, the aircraft experienced an unsafe right main gear indication. Mechanics found a damaged micro switch mounting plate and performed a repair sufficient to hold until a replacement plate could be ordered and installed.
On the day of the incident, the pilot again received an unsafe right main gear indication. During the landing, the pilot applied a side load to the gear to check its security. At that moment, a loud bang was heard from the area of the right main gear, and the gear began to collapse. The pilot executed a balked landing.
On the second landing attempt, the right gear again began to collapse. The pilot then flew the aircraft back to the departure point. During the subsequent landing, the right gear collapsed.
Post-Inspection Findings
A post-crash inspection of the aircraft revealed that the right main gear over center brace had failed, along with its mounting bolt. Metallurgical examination of the failed components determined that they failed due to overstress, with no indications of previous cracks or the presence of corrosion.