Incident Overview
Following a landing attempt, the pilot reported an abnormal touchdown and immediately recognized a mechanical problem. The pilot aborted the approach and cycled the landing gear twice. During this process, the gear unsafe light remained illuminated, indicating a persistent issue with the system.
Operational Response
The aircraft returned to the departure airport for further assessment. Tower personnel visually confirmed damage to the left main landing gear. To reduce weight and risk, the pilot proceeded to burn off approximately one and a half hours of fuel before attempting another landing. The final touchdown occurred on the grass adjacent to the paved runway, utilizing only the nose gear and the right main landing gear.
Technical Findings
Subsequent examination of the landing gear components identified the root cause of the failure. The upper barrel, designated by part number 5141002-11, fractured due to fatigue cracking. This cracking occurred above a brazed-on collar. The investigation determined that the fracture resulted from improper machining performed after the barrel was assembled during the manufacturing process.