On March 27, 1997, a Cessna 195 (registration N4666T) was involved in an aviation accident near Cedar Rapids, IA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: overload failure of the left main landing gear for undetermined reason(s). A factor associated with the accident was the gusty crosswind condition. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During the landing roll-out on runway 13, the left main landing gear collapsed after the airplane rolled approximately 500 to 1000 feet. The airplane rotated about 150 degrees before stopping. An inspection found no preexisting damage or fatigue on the fractured gear.
Incident Overview
A pilot reported that the left main landing gear failed during the landing roll-out on runway 13. The gear collapsed after the airplane had rolled an estimated 500 to 1000 feet. The pilot stated he was transitioning to a 3-point attitude while applying left rudder and firm braking to maintain directional control when the left main gear gave way.
Aircraft Behavior
Following the gear collapse, the airplane rotated about 150 degrees before coming to a stop. The wind was reported from 180 degrees at 14 knots, gusting to 20 knots.
Post-Incident Inspection
An inspection of the fractured landing gear revealed no signs of preexisting damage or fatigue. The cause of the failure was not determined from the examination.