What happened
On January 23, 2015, an Embraer EMB-810D, registration PT-RYQ, was performing a charter flight from Bacacheri Aerodrome (SBBI) in Curitiba to Florianópolis Aerodrome (SBFL) in Santa Catarina. The aircraft was carrying two pilots and two passengers.
During the approach for landing in Florianópolis, the pilot noticed that the left main landing gear failed to indicate it was locked in the down position. Following the landing, the left main gear retracted, causing the engine propeller to strike the ground. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the left engine and propeller. All four occupants of the aircraft escaped the incident without injury.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators and maintenance specialists examined the landing gear components, specifically the retraction arm assembly (PN 39470-02 and PN 39472-02). The investigation focused on the articulation bolt (PN NAS464P6-18) and its associated bushing.
Technical inspections revealed severe corrosion between the articulation bolt and the bushing. This corrosion prevented the left main landing gear from locking in the down position. While the aircraft's maintenance records showed that a 100-hour inspection had been performed approximately 66 days prior to the accident (with 55.5 flight hours elapsed since that inspection), investigators determined it was unlikely that such significant corrosion could have developed in that short timeframe. The investigation suggested that the corrosion may have been present or caused by the improper execution of the inspection requirements specified in the aircraft's maintenance manual.