Incident Overview
On 25 June 2000 at 1802 hours UTC, a Piper PA-34-200T, registration D-GMCW, experienced a landing gear collapse during landing at Teesside Airport. The aircraft was on a private flight, having departed Cambridge at 1700 hours for a pleasure trip to Teesside with a planned stop at Cambridge. The pilot, aged 46, held a Commercial Pilot's Licence and had 1,400 total flying hours, with 500 on type.
Sequence of Events
Approaching Teesside, Air Traffic Control instructed the pilot to join a right-hand circuit for Runway 05 and report when on base leg. ATC observed the aircraft positioning downwind on a left-hand circuit for Runway 23, then directed the pilot to turn left and reposition downwind for Runway 05. The aircraft repositioned on a tight right-hand base leg with a short final approach. ATC saw the landing gear being lowered on short finals.
The pilot reported that the landing gear was locked down with three green indicators prior to landing. The landing was described as slightly hard but otherwise normal. Upon touchdown, the left main landing gear collapsed. The aircraft slewed to the right through 180 degrees and came to rest blocking the runway. The Teesside Airport fire service arrived promptly; there was no fire. The pilot and passenger exited without assistance and were uninjured.
Damage and Ground Marks
Damage included both main landing gears, the left propeller, and the underside of the aircraft. Photographs of the accident site provided by Teesside Airport Operations showed tyre and fuselage ground contact marks. The aircraft had landed slightly left of the runway centreline, and the left main landing gear had collapsed inboard, causing the left wing to drop and the left propeller to strike the runway surface, creating approximately half a dozen propeller strike marks. The left propeller tips were curled forward, suggesting the engine was developing power when the gear collapsed. The aircraft veered and skidded right, crossing the centreline, and came to rest on the right side of the runway, pointing backwards from the landing direction. The right main landing gear side brace failed in tension due to side loads during the ground slide, allowing the gear to fold outboard slightly but not collapse fully.
Examination and Findings
The aircraft was examined by an engineer representing the German Air Accident Investigation Bureau. The left-hand side brace had buckled due to overload in compression, and some bolts were bent due to excessive loading. The right-hand side brace had failed in tension due to overload. No evidence of fatigue or other pre-existing defects was noted. The aircraft was repaired at Teesside and flown back to Germany several weeks later.
Weather Conditions
At 1750 hours, weather conditions at Teesside were dry with surface wind 040°/08 kt and visibility exceeding 10 km.