On June 18, 1988, a Beech D18S (registration N4234A) was involved in an aviation accident near St. Louis, MO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: A broken landing gear drag link, which caused the main gear collapse. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During roll-out at the destination airport after a night 14 CFR 135 air taxi cargo flight, the main landing gear collapsed, causing substantial damage. Investigation revealed a broken landing gear drag link as the cause.
Accident Overview
A Volpar tri-gear conversion of a Beech 18, powered by Garrett turboprop engines and operating with an increased maximum allowable gross weight, experienced a main landing gear collapse during roll-out after a night 14 CFR 135 air taxi cargo flight. The accident occurred at the destination airport, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft.
Investigation Findings
Post-accident investigation determined that a broken landing gear drag link was the direct cause of the main gear collapse. The drag link failure led to the loss of structural integrity in the landing gear system, precipitating the collapse during the landing roll.
Aircraft Description
The accident aircraft was a Volpar tri-gear conversion of the Beech 18, a twin-engine design originally manufactured by Beechcraft. This conversion included the installation of Garrett turboprop engines and an increased maximum allowable gross weight, which modified the aircraft's performance and structural characteristics.
Probable cause
A broken landing gear drag link, which caused the main gear collapse.