What happened
On 25 May 2002, a Piper PA-28RT-201T, registration G-BOWY, was conducting a training flight at Redhill Aerodrome, Surrey. The flight was intended to serve as a type check for a club member and included a passenger for an air experience. Following takeoff, the landing gear was retracted normally; however, during the first approach, the pilot received a red 'gear unsafe' indication for the right main landing gear, despite the nose and left main gear showing green 'down and locked' lights.
After performing a low approach and go-around, the crew continued flying in the local area for approximately two hours. During this time, the gear was cycled roughly 3-0 times, and emergency extension procedures involving high-g and yawing maneuvers were attempted, but the unsafe indication persisted. Following an airborne inspection by a maintenance engineer in a separate aircraft, the instructor opted to land on Runway 26L. To manage the approach with the gear partially extended, the pilot maintained a higher-than-normal approach path to allow for idle power and full flaps.
Upon touchdown on the left main gear, the right wing tip struck the ground. While the pilot initially maintained direction using rudder and braking, the aircraft eventually veered to the right and came to rest on its right side. There were no injuries to the two crew members or the passenger, though the aircraft sustained damage to the outboard edge of the right flap.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical failure of the right main landing gear. A technical examination by the maintenance organization discovered that the torque link bolt, along with its castellated nut and split pin, was missing from the right leg's scissor assembly. This absence permitted the right wheel to swivel approximately 30 degrees, causing the landing gear leg to jam within the wheel well.
Investigators also noted that the aircraft had a history of a similar incident in June 2000, where the right wheel skewed significantly due to a missing torque link bolt. While the maintenance organization had been replacing these bolts during annual inspections, the absence of the bolt was not detected during the pre-flight inspections conducted by the instructor and the student on the day of the accident.