Accident Details
A private pilot was conducting a landing on an off-airport grass surface area in an airplane equipped with tundra tires. As the pilot applied the brakes during the landing roll, the left main landing gear collapsed. The airplane then pivoted to the left, and the left wing struck the ground.
Examination Findings
Inspection of the landing gear revealed that the outboard end of the left main landing gear strut extension was broken through the outer radius of the attaching lug, where it normally would bolt to the axle. Additionally, the landing gear safety cable was broken.
The airplane was equipped with hydrasorb landing gear shock units, which consist of automotive-type oleo struts combined with light shock cords. Examination of the outboard end of the hydrasorb extension tube showed a flat fracture surface that was perpendicular to the long axis of the tube. This fracture surface had extensive evidence of corrosion.
The landing gear had been installed since 1977, and the most recent annual inspection of the airplane had been completed approximately one year before the accident.