What happened
On 03 June 2007, a Cessna 310R, registration Z-WLS, was conducting a repositioning flight from Polokwane International Aerodrome to Nelspruit Aerodrome. Due to inclement weather at the intended destination, the pilot diverted to Lanseria Aerodrome.
While the landing at Lanseria was completed without incident, the aircraft experienced a significant malfunction during ground operations. As the pilot was executing a left turn from taxiway Alpha into taxiway Lima, the right main landing gear collapsed. The impact caused the right propeller, wing tip, and elevator to strike the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft's undercarriage and airframe components. The pilot sustained no injuries.
The investigation
Following the incident, the aircraft was moved to a maintenance facility where the SACAA investigation team conducted an inspection. The investigators examined the landing gear mechanism, specifically looking at the components responsible for maintaining the gear in the down and locked position.
Investigators were unable to review the specific maintenance history for the landing gear system, as records from the Zimbabwean maintenance organization could not be obtained. However, the aircraft had undergone a Mandatory Periodic Inspection (MPI) approximately 3.6 hours prior to the incident. The investigation focused on the mechanical integrity of the side brace and the down lock link.