Incident Overview
A pilot reported encountering directional control difficulties while landing a tundra tire-equipped airplane at a remote airstrip used to support his mining operations. During the landing, the airplane's right main landing gear collapsed, resulting in damage to the right wing spar, right wing struts, and a portion of the fuselage.
Temporary Repairs and Ferry Flight
Following the accident, the pilot elected to perform temporary repairs to the landing gear using water pipe. Additionally, he taped boards to the lift struts to address structural damage. The pilot then flew the airplane from the mining strip to McGrath, Alaska, where he obtained fuel.
Subsequent Collapse
Upon departing McGrath, the main landing gear collapsed again, causing further damage to the airplane. The event is documented in NTSB Accident Report ANC96LA105.
Observations
The initial landing difficulties occurred on a rural airstrip. The pilot's improvised repairs involved non-standard materials, and the additional collapse highlighted ongoing structural issues with the landing gear.