What happened
Following takeoff, the right main landing gear failed to retract. After reviewing available procedures, the crew elected to continue the flight to their destination.
Upon arrival, the pilots selected the landing gear to the down position. All landing gear indicated down and locked, and the captain visually verified that the right main gear was in place. During the landing roll, as the aircraft passed through approximately 60 knots, the indication for the right main landing gear provided an intermittent unsafe signal. In response, the pilot flying applied power to initiate a go-around. During this maneuver, the right main landing gear collapsed. The aircraft slid and rolled to a stop on the runway, and all occupants were not injured during an uneventful evacuation.
The investigation
An examination of the right main landing gear assembly revealed that the extension/retraction actuator had failed at the spherical bearing. A metallurgical examination determined that the spherical bearing had suffered a fatigue failure, with evidence of wear and binding in certain positions. The component was found to be dry, with no evidence of lubrication. A review of the aircraft's maintenance records and procedures indicated that all required inspections and maintenance had been completed according to applicable directives.