Introduction
On 8 December 1998 at 0943 hours UTC, a Beech 95-B55 aircraft, registration G-RICK, sustained a landing gear collapse during the landing rollout at Stornoway Airport. The aircraft was on a public transport flight with a crew of one and one passenger. Both occupants were uninjured.
Sequence of Events
The aircraft had completed an uneventful instrument approach and touched down normally and gently with full flap deployed. During the rollout, the aircraft began to drift to the right of the runway centreline. The pilot applied left rudder in an attempt to maintain directional control. Shortly afterward, the landing gear warning horn sounded. The nose landing gear leg then folded, followed by the right main landing gear leg and subsequently the left main landing gear leg. The aircraft came to a halt on the runway and was evacuated.
Damage
The landing gear doors and linkages, as well as both propellers, were damaged. The landing gear legs had unlocked during the event, though the three geometric locks were found undamaged. However, the push rods associated with the locks were bent, preventing a full reproduction of the landing gear rigging.
Investigation Findings
Examination of the landing gear selector, relay, and electric motor did not reveal any faults. The landing gear system is powered by an electrically driven gearbox that operates the legs through push rods. Following the gear failure, the replacement of the gearbox and electric motor is a mandatory action.
Pilot Experience
The commander, aged 50, held a Commercial Pilot's Licence with an Instrument Rating and had accumulated 8,990 flying hours, of which 235 were on type. In the previous 90 days, the pilot had flown 114 hours, with 34 hours in the last 28 days.