Accident Details
The accident involved a commercial pilot operating a multiengine airplane on a return flight to his home airport. Earlier on the same day, the pilot had completed several uneventful flights in the same aircraft.
Sequence of Events
During the final approach for landing, all instruments indicated normal operation. The pilot reported that the airplane landed "firmly," after which the right wing dropped and the right engine propeller blades contacted the runway. The pilot then pulled back on the yoke, and the airplane became airborne again momentarily before settling back onto the runway. Subsequently, the right main landing gear (MLG) collapsed, causing the airplane to veer off the right side of the runway. The aircraft struck a runway sign and a weather antenna.
Witness and Pilot Reports
Witness reports corroborated the pilot's account of the landing and the subsequent events. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Postaccident Examination
A postaccident examination revealed that the right MLG actuator was fractured and that the landing gear was found inside the wheel well. This condition likely resulted from the hard landing.
Probable Cause
Based on a combination of pilot and witness statements and the wreckage examination, it is likely that the pilot improperly flared the airplane, which resulted in the hard landing and the subsequent collapse of the main landing gear.