Landing Gear Bell Crank Failure Causes Ground Collision During Landing Rollout (N401RW)

What happened

The pilot reported that during the landing rollout phase, the aircraft began to veer sharply to the left. Despite applying corrective control inputs, the left wing continued to drop until it made contact with the terrain before the aircraft could come to a complete stop.

The investigation

A post-accident examination of the airframe and systems revealed a critical mechanical failure within the landing gear mechanism. Investigators found that the bell crank assembly was broken, which permitted the premature retraction of the gear during the rollout.

Findings

The structural failure of the bell crank assembly in the landing gear system was the primary factor leading to the loss of control and subsequent ground contact. The unexpected movement of the gear compromised the aircraft's stability on the runway.