Incident Overview
During a landing approach, the pilot attempted to lower the landing gear, but the left main gear would not extend. The aircraft was subsequently landed with the gear in that condition.
Examination Findings
Post-flight examination of the strut assembly revealed that a bearing, part number 5041108-1/2, had failed. This failure allowed the strut to overextend, which caused the gear to jam within the wheel well.
Historical Context
A review of failure records indicated that other similar aircraft using the same bearing had experienced comparable failures, resulting in similar accidents. This pattern prompted notification to the aircraft manufacturer.
Manufacturer Response
The aircraft manufacturer issued a service letter advising that all aircraft using this bearing should have the bearing inspected every 1,000 flight hours to prevent recurrence.