Accident Details
A flight inbound for landing experienced difficulty extending the landing gear. The aircraft subsequently landed on the runway. Upon touchdown, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the aircraft slid into a runway light structure.
Post-Accident Inspection
Following the accident, FAA airworthiness inspectors examined the aircraft. The inspection revealed that the main landing gear saddle casting had failed, leaving the left main landing gear without support.
Maintenance Background
The landing gear saddle structure on this aircraft is subject to an Airworthiness Directive (AD) requiring repetitive inspections for cracks. Maintenance records indicated that the AD had been complied with during the last annual inspection, which occurred 42 hours and 3 months prior to the accident. The FAA inspector noted that the saddle casting showed abundant evidence of a recent die penetrant inspection.