What happened
On 26 January 1994, a Cessna 310Q, registration G-ZIPP, was performing a private VFR flight from Blackpool to Rotterdam. Upon arrival at Rotterdam Airport, the pilot encountered severe turbulence and a strong crosswind. The initial landing attempt on runway 24 was hard and traversing, prompting the pilot to execute a go-around.
During the climb-out following the go-around, the pilot noted that the landing gear motor appeared to labor and the gear transit light remained illuminated longer than usual. A loud noise was heard from beneath the fuselage as the gear transitioned. On the subsequent approach, despite the previous incident, the pilot observed three green lights indicating the gear was down and locked. However, during the rollout of the second landing, the left main landing gear collapsed. The aircraft skidded off the runway, entered a 180-degree ground loop, and came to rest on its belly in the grass. There were no injuries among the two crew members and three passengers, though the aircraft was severely damaged.
The investigation
The investigation examined the mechanical state of the aircraft and the meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. Investigators found that the aircraft's weight and balance were within limits and the pilot was properly licensed. Meteorological data confirmed a significant crosswind, with winds at 300 degrees at 28 knots gusting to 38 knots.
Technical examination of the wreckage revealed that the left main landing gear had suffered a broken bellcrank and sidebrace lock-link attachment, and the torque tube had sheared from its mounting bracket. The investigation focused on the sequence of structural failures occurring between the first and second landing attempts.