Right Main Gear Strut Failure During Landing (N39776)

Incident Overview and Immediate Response During a normal landing, the right main gear strut failed on touchdown. The student and instructor were able to execute a rejected landing. Witnesses observed the right main landing gear hanging from the aircraft by the hydraulic brake line during the rejected landing. The instructor then flew the aircraft around the local area for three hours and forty-five minutes to reduce the fuel load. The aircraft subsequently landed gear up at Prescott. During the time the aircraft was flown around the local area, the right main landing gear fell free from the aircraft. ## Post-Accident Findings Post-accident inspection of the aircraft revealed that the right main landing gear strut failed at the trunion attach fitting. The landing gear assembly and the associated attach fittings were not located for a detailed examination of the failure mode.