What happened
On May 9, 2014, a Beechcraft 58, registration PT-WMM, was conducting a private flight from Jataí (SWJW) to Goiânia (SBGO) with one pilot and two passengers on board. During the final approach to runway 14 at SBGO, the pilot was alerted via radio by another aircraft at the holding point that there was an issue with the left landing gear.
Following this warning, the pilot initiated a go-around. While maneuvering in the western sector of the airfield, the pilot attempted to extend the landing gear three times but discovered that the left landing gear actuator rod had fractured. Due to the inability to extend the gear, the pilot coordinated with air traffic control and decided to return to the origin airfield, Jata andí (SWJW). To manage fuel levels, the pilot entered a holding pattern 20 nautical miles from the airport. Once the low-fuel warning light illuminated, the pilot declared an emergency and proceeded to land on runway 13 with the landing gear retracted. The aircraft sustained light damage to the lower fuselage and flaps, but all three occupants were uninjured.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical failure of the left landing gear actuator rod. Laboratory analysis conducted by the Institute of Aeronautics and Space (IAE) determined that the metal tube had fractured due to overload.
Subsequent testing on jacks in a certified workshop revealed that the left landing gear extension process was being obstructed by the uplock roller. Upon lubricating the roller, the investigators found that the gear could cycle freely without jamming. While maintenance records indicated that the 100-hour inspection performed in February 2014 included the required lubrication of the uplock rollers, witnesses suggested that frequent aircraft washing might have inadvertently removed the lubricant from the component.