No fatalities

8 Apr 2017: CESSNA 310R R (N1362G) — South Lakeland, FL

South Lakeland, FL, United States

On 8 Apr 2017, a CESSNA 310R R (registration N1362G) was involved in an aviation accident near South Lakeland, FL. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The failure of the left main landing gear on landing for reasons that could not be determined due to the extent of damage sustained during the accident. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

On April 8, 2017, a Cessna 310R sustained substantial damage when the left main landing gear collapsed during landing at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport; pilot and passenger uninjured.

Aircraft Information

The accident involved a Cessna 310R, registration N1362G, which was registered and operated by the pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. At the time of the accident, the airplane had accumulated a total of 7,794 flight hours.

Event Sequence

On April 8, 2017, at about 1145 eastern daylight time, the airplane was landing on runway at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport (LAL), Lakeland, Florida. The flight originated from North Perry Airport (HWO), Hollywood, Florida, about 1040. No flight plan was filed. The pilot confirmed the landing gear was down and locked prior to landing and described the landing as "perfectly" executed. As the airplane rolled down the runway, the left wing began to sink. The pilot shut off the left engine, and the airplane veered left off the runway onto the grass. The pilot then shut off the right engine. After the airplane came to a stop, the pilot secured the airplane and both he and his passenger exited.

Post-Accident Examination

Examination of the left main landing gear revealed that the fork bolt was ripped out of the landing gear torque tube, causing damage to the torque tube. As a result, the gear could not be retracted and tested to fully determine the failure mode. However, visual examination indicated that the over-centering tension on the down lock assembly did not appear to be rigged correctly. The left wing, left horizontal stabilizer, and left propeller assembly sustained substantial damage.

Maintenance History

A review of the airframe maintenance logbooks showed that the last annual inspection was conducted on July 12, 2016, at a total time of 7,714.2 hours. At that time, the landing gear was retracted, and a test of the emergency extension system was found satisfactory. No specific maintenance to the main landing gear system was identified during that inspection or during the annual inspection in 2015.

Pilot Information

The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, multiengine land, and instrument airplane. His most recent Federal Aviation Administration first-class medical certificate was issued on September 19, 2016, at which time he reported a total of 4,550 flight hours.

Weather Conditions

Weather reported at LAL at 1150 included wind from 010° at 4 knots, visibility 10 miles, and clear skies. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.