What happened
On June 9, 2012, a PIPER PA-23-250 Aztec E, registration EC-GGF, was performing a private flight from Sabadell Airport to Igualada Aerodrome when the aircraft suffered a runway excursion. During the landing roll on runway 17, the pilot noticed the left main landing gear was giving way. The aircraft traveled approximately 330 meters before coming to a stop, having veered off the runway to the left. The aircraft eventually rested on its nose gear, right main gear, and left wing. All six occupants—the pilot and five passengers—were uninjured.
The investigation
The CIAIAC investigation focused on the structural integrity of the landing gear and the maintenance history of the aircraft. Investigators examined the wreckage, noting that the left main gear strut had cracked, causing the drag link attachment projection to separate from the strut. Laboratory analysis of the fractures confirmed that the failure originated from a fatigue process in the area where the main gear drag link attaches to the strut.
While eyewitnesses described the landing as very hard, investigators determined that such an impact, if it occurred, only accelerated the failure of an already compromised component. The investigation also reviewed the aircraft's maintenance records, noting that the gear had been in service for 40 years, with the last 15 years involving high-demand training operations. The maintenance program, which followed manufacturer specifications, relied on flight hours rather than landing cycles and did not include specific inspections or overha-uls for the gear components involved.