Incident Overview
On May 22, 2016, at approximately 1600 Eastern Daylight Time, a Beech C24R airplane, registration N20135, sustained substantial damage during a landing at Marine City Airport (76G) near Marine City, Michigan. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal operation.
Sequence of Events
The pilot reported that after takeoff, the indicator light for the right main landing gear did not initially show that the gear had retracted. Before he could recycle the landing gear, he heard a thump and the indicator light turned off, indicating a fully retracted gear. Believing the issue was resolved, he continued to the intended destination.
During the landing approach at 76G, the pilot selected the landing gear to extend, but the indicator light for the right main landing gear did not illuminate, indicating an unsafe gear position. He applied engine power and performed a go-around. Suspecting a faulty position switch, he attempted another landing. As the left main landing gear contacted the runway, the right wing dropped. He aborted the landing and orbited the airport while cycling the landing gear multiple times, but never received a safe indication for the right main landing gear. After attempting the emergency landing gear extension procedure without success, he decided to land with the right main landing gear retracted. He intentionally landed along the right edge of the runway so that the right wing would drop onto the grass alongside. During the landing, the right wing contacted the ground, and the airplane swerved off the right side of the runway into a marshy grass area.
Damage and Examination
The right wing and the right side of the stabilator were substantially damaged when they collided with several runway lights during the roll-out. Additionally, the right main fuel tank ruptured after striking a runway edge light post. At the accident site, the right main landing gear was observed retracted in the wheel well. An aviation mechanic used a crowbar to dislodge the tire from the aft wheel well fairing, after which the gear extended fully.
Subsequent reexamination of the airplane at a hangar, while on jack stands, revealed that the right main landing gear tire jammed against the aft wheel well fairing during retraction and extension. The aircraft was equipped with Condor part number 26295-B1, 6.00-6 x 17.50 (8 ply) main landing gear tires, while the airframe manufacturer's illustrated parts catalog specified a 6.00-6 x 17.50 (4 ply) tire. The left main landing gear extended and retracted without binding on the aft wheel fairing. When the main tires were swapped from side to side, the right tire retracted and extended normally when installed on the left gear, but the left tire bound on the aft wheel well fairing when installed on the right gear. Measurements of the right main landing gear shock disks were within the manufacturer's specifications. The FAA inspectors then loosened the right main landing gear shock disc nut about one turn, which moved the gear yoke forward approximately half an inch in the gear well, allowing the gear to extend and retract without contacting the fairing.
Pilot Interview and Maintenance History
The pilot was re-interviewed after the examination. The FAA inspectors informed him that the right main landing gear was misaligned, causing the tire to contact the aft wheel well fairing. The pilot then stated that the airplane had recently experienced a hard landing, after which the right-side cabin door began to scrape the top of the right wing when opened and closed.
A review of the airframe maintenance logbook showed that the airplane had undergone an annual inspection on August 5, 2015, at 5,242.32 total airframe hours. The logbook entry reported no anomalies with the extension or retraction of the main landing gear during that inspection. No additional maintenance entries were made after the annual inspection. At the time of the accident, the airplane had accumulated 94.2 hours since the last annual inspection.