Incident Description
During the downwind leg, the instructor and the pilot both confirmed that the landing gear was down and locked. Their checks included noting that the indicator light was illuminated, the landing gear control had automatically returned to the neutral position, observing the extended main gear and seeing the extended nose gear through mirrors, and noting that the gear warning horn did not sound when the throttle was retarded. However, when the airplane touched down, the main landing gear collapsed.
Post-accident Examination
After the incident, the operator examined the airplane and found that the landing gear control was in the down position, which should be in the neutral position. Additionally, the gear safe light was not illuminated. When the airplane was lifted, the gear fell freely, locked in place, and the gear safe light illuminated. Examination of the landing gear revealed that it had been properly rigged. When the airplane was placed on jacks, functional testing showed no landing gear anomalies.
Previous Mishap History
The pilot stated that the airplane had been involved in five previous gear-up mishaps. In contrast, the operator claimed that it had been involved in only two landing gear mishaps. This discrepancy was noted but not resolved.
Inspection and Maintenance
An unannounced inspection of the operator's maintenance facility by the FAA revealed that all records were in order and procedures were being followed according to applicable federal regulations. The landing gear system was found to be properly rigged and functioning normally under test conditions.