Accident Overview
On January 17, 2009, at approximately 1900 mountain standard time, a Beech A36, registration N8074P, was substantially damaged during a landing at Four Corners Regional Airport (FMN) in Farmington, New Mexico. The flight was a personal operation under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and was not conducted on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The local flight had originated from FMN at 1850.
Accident Details
According to a statement from the pilot, the accident occurred on the sixth landing of the flight. After moving the landing gear handle to the "DOWN" position, the pilot reported that the gear sequencing sounded normal but occurred more quickly than usual. The three landing gear position indicator lights did not illuminate. The pilot then contacted the control tower and requested a visual inspection of the landing gear. Following a low approach, the tower controller responded that the landing gear appeared to be extended. The pilot proceeded to land on runway 25.
During the landing flare, the pilot did not hear the gear warning horn. After touchdown, the landing gear collapsed. The airplane departed the right side of the runway and came to a stop. The pilot exited the aircraft normally. Substantial damage was sustained to the firewall and right wing.
Maintenance Examination
A review of maintenance records showed that on December 4, 2008, various maintenance actions were performed on both main landing gears. An examination conducted by an aircraft mechanic determined that the left main landing gear retract rod had been installed incorrectly. The airplane had accumulated 72.7 hours of flight time between that maintenance and the accident flight, at which point the retraction rod failed. Additionally, the landing gear transmission/motor limit switch was damaged and rendered inoperative.