What happened
On March 6, 2022, a Beech 200, registration N8170J, was involved in an accident at Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport (GPT) in Gulfport, Mississippi. The flight, operated as a Part 91 business flight, was on an instrument approach to Stennis International Airport (HAS) when the pilot attempted to extend the landing gear.
During the extension process, passengers reported hearing a loud bang beneath the floor panels, after which the pilot found the gear would not extend. The pilot attempted to use the manual extension handle, but the system remained jammed. The pilot subsequently diverted to Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport. After further unsuccessful attempts to extend the gear, the pilot performed a gear-up landing. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage, and a small fire occurred under the right engine nacelle following the landing. The pilot and four passengers were not injured.
The investigation
FAA inspectors examined the landing gear and found it remained jammed and unresponsive to both the cockpit handle and manual extension. While the left drive shaft could be rotated with pliers, the right drive shaft exhibited binding and would barely move.
Upon disassembly of the right main landing gear actuator by Textron Aviation under FAA supervision, investigators determined the failure originated within the straight bevel gear set. The examination revealed the following:
- The pinion gear exhibited teeth breakage with features suggesting progressive cracking.
- The driven gear teeth showed plastic deformation and cracking.
- The pinion gear had effective case depth but failed to meet minimum case hardness requirements.
- The driven gear showed no evidence of case hardening and failed to meet requirements for both minimum case hardness and effective case depth.
Maintenance records indicated the right main landing gear actuator had been overhauled in 2015 and was within its service interval for overhaul and inspection at the time of the accident.