Incident Overview
A pilot was conducting a night takeoff when a deer became visible in the aircraft's lights. In an attempt to avoid the animal, the pilot rotated the aircraft sufficiently, but the effort was unsuccessful. The right main landing gear struck the deer.
Immediate Aftermath
Following the impact, the green indicator light for the landing gear extinguished, indicating a potential malfunction. The pilot decided to divert to an airport with longer runways to accommodate any landing difficulties.
Landing Gear Failure
During the landing rollout, the right main landing gear collapsed, causing the airplane to swerve off the runway. Subsequent examination by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed that the drag brace on the right landing gear was bent. As a result, the landing gear could not lock in the down position.
Conclusion
The incident highlights the challenges of wildlife encounters during night operations and the subsequent mechanical complications. The pilot's decision to divert to a longer runway was a precautionary measure in response to the landing gear indicator anomaly.