What happened
On August 29, 2011, a Cessna C-310Q, registration PT-IJH, operated by Ceará Táxi Aéreo Ltda., was performing a cargo transport flight from Fortaleza to Iguatu, Ceará. The aircraft landed normally on runway 13 at Iguatu Airport (SNIG). However, during the landing roll, the right main landing gear unexpectedly retracted.
Following the retraction, the aircraft traveled approximately 200 meters before veering to the right. The aircraft eventually came to a stop 90 degrees offset from the runway centerline, approximately 10 meters from the right edge of the pavement. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained severe damage to the engine, the right main landing gear, the right wing, and the right flap, along with destruction of the right engine propellers.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the structural failures of the landing gear components. Metallographic laboratory testing conducted by the Institute of Aeronautics and Space (IAE) revealed that the fractures in the bell crank, the adjustment screw, and the truss assembly were characteristic of overload failure. While the pilot reported a normal landing, the physical evidence suggested the possibility of a heavy landing causing excessive stress.
The investigation also scrutinized the maintenance history of the aircraft. It was discovered that several required Supplemental Inspection Documents (SID) related to the landing gear assembly had not been performed. Furthermore, the maintenance facility lacked the specialized tools necessary to measure tension points in the landing gear system as required by the manufacturer's manual. The investigation also noted that the operator and the maintenance workshop were managed by the same individual, which may have compromised independent management oversight.
Findings
- Inadequate maintenance oversight, specifically the failure to comply with mandatory supplemental inspections (SID) for the landing gear system.
- Mechanical failure of the bell crank, adjustment screw, and truss assembly due to excessive stress.
- Potential improper application of controls during landing, leading to a heavy landing.
- Lack of adequate maintenance tools at the workshop to verify landing gear tension points.
- Management conflict of interest due to the same individual managing both the aircraft operator and the maintenance provider.