On June 12, 1993, a Cessna 402 (registration N222JA) operated by Alaska Island Air was involved in an aviation accident near Kivalina, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The failure of the pivot link between the push-pull tubes and the over-center link assembly, which was associated with the landing gear system rigging being out of tolerance. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
An aircraft experienced a landing gear malfunction during the landing roll when the right wing settled onto the runway. Investigation revealed that the pivot link between the push-pull tubes and the over-center link assembly had failed.
What happened
During the landing roll, the pilot reported that the right wing of the aircraft settled to the runway surface. The incident occurred while the airplane was decelerating on the ground after touchdown.
The investigation
A post-incident examination of the airplane revealed a mechanical failure within the landing gear system. Specifically, the pivot link connecting the push-pull tubes to the over-center link assembly had failed. This structural failure prevented the landing gear from maintaining its extended position or absorbing the load correctly during the ground phase of the flight.
Findings
A repair station was employed to inspect and repair the aircraft following the incident. During their assessment of the landing gear system rigging, technicians determined that the assembly was found to be out of tolerance. This misalignment likely contributed to the stress that led to the pivot link failure, resulting in the right wing settling onto the runway during the landing roll.
Probable cause
The failure of the pivot link between the push-pull tubes and the over-center link assembly, which was associated with the landing gear system rigging being out of tolerance.