What happened
During a scheduled domestic passenger flight operated under Title 14, CFR Part 135, an airline transport certificated pilot was performing a landing on a paved runway. As the twin-engine airplane slowed during the landing roll, the pilot reported experiencing significant airframe vibration and a pronounced rumbling noise. Upon applying the brakes, the aircraft veered to the left. The pilot was unable to maintain the aircraft on the runway, causing it to exit the left side of the paved surface and strike a drainage ditch. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the fuselage.
The investigation
A post-accident inspection conducted by maintenance personnel identified a broken aluminum alloy landing gear oleo attachment bracket on the left main landing gear strut assembly. Maintenance requirements for operators using these specific brackets include recurring inspections every 500 hours or every 1,200 landings, whichever occurs first. An FAA airworthiness inspector reviewed the aircraft's maintenance records and found that the bracket had been last inspected approximately 101.0 hours and 218 landings prior to the accident. Additionally, the inspector noted a substantial accumulation of dirt, grease, and oil on and around the broken component.