On August 22, 2004, a Piper PA-30 (registration N8475Y) was involved in an aviation accident near Auburn, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: a collapse of the landing gear for undetermined reasons. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
The airplane experienced a sequential landing gear collapse during the landing roll. Post-accident inspections revealed no mechanical defects, and the gear was confirmed extended at the time.
Event Description
The aircraft was completing a landing when the landing gear collapsed during the landing roll. After a normal touchdown, the airplane rolled approximately one-third of the runway length before the left main landing gear collapsed, followed by the right main landing gear. The nose gear collapsed after the airplane came to rest.
Post-Accident Examination
An airplane mechanic who performed a post-accident inspection reported finding no defects or faults that could have resulted in a landing gear failure. The mechanic also noted that the squat switch was intact and operated normally. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane and stated that the main landing gear doors were crushed outward, indicating that the landing gear were extended when the collapse occurred.