What happened
The private pilot was conducting a local flight when they attempted to land the aircraft. Upon touchdown, the airplane rolled approximately 300 feet along the runway before the left main landing gear collapsed. The impact caused significant structural damage to the airframe, specifically affecting the left wing, the horizontal stabilizer, and the left main fuel tank.
The investigation
A postaccident inspection of the aircraft revealed mechanical issues within the landing gear system. Investigators found that a relay and switch were out of adjustment. This malfunction caused the components to work intermittently, which allowed the landing gear to interrupt its extension process prior to engaging the down lock mechanism.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to the accident was the failure of the landing gear to fully extend and lock due to the misadjusted relay and switch. The pilot reported that the collapse occurred immediately after the initial contact with the runway surface, indicating a pre-existing mechanical condition rather than an operational error during the flare or rollout.