Incident Overview
The pilot of a single-engine airplane reported an inability to extend the left main landing gear using either the normal landing gear selector or the emergency hand pump. After shutting down the engine, the pilot performed a landing on the runway centerline with the right main and nose landing gears extended, while the left main gear remained retracted.
Sequence of Events
As the aircraft's airspeed decreased during the landing roll, the pilot reported that the airplane entered an uncontrollable left turn. The aircraft subsequently departed the paved surface and traveled into the grass alongside the runway. During this excursion, the left wing and left horizontal stabilizer made contact with the ground.
Post-Incident Findings
An inspection of the left main landing gear assembly revealed a failure of the landing gear saddle. According to an FAA inspector, the inboard mounting bolt that connects the saddle to the gear leg had sheared. The inspector also noted that an airworthiness directive (AD) concerning the saddle had been issued in 1976. While the AD was initially complied with, the required recurrent inspections had not been carried out.
Damage Assessment
The aircraft sustained damage to the left wing and left horizontal stabilizer as a result of ground contact. No further details on damage extent were provided.